There is a fascinating history to the Cambodia gambling halls that reside just across the border from neighboring Thailand, where gambling den betting is illegal. Eight gambling dens are based in a generally small space in the municipality of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling dens is in a perfect location, a three to four hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the two most popular gambling locations in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a huge business with Thai blue-collar workers and guests from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a few Westerners. The phenomenal income gained from the casinos ranges from $7.5 million to over 12.5 million, and there are a number of controls requirements for casino ownership. Ownership is required to be mostly Thai; although, investment sources are cryptic. The borders are ceremoniously open from 09:00 to 1700, and though visas are apparently needed to pass, there are methods and means around this, as is correct of many borders.
The initial Cambodia casinos opened in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving only 1 casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a moored boat casino, features one hundred and fifty slots and 60 tables. The Naga gambling hall is open all hours with 42 tables of mini-punto banco, 4 tables of vingt-et-un, ten of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and one each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The initial casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown before long opened. A total of 150 slots and 5 tables at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four one armed bandits and 68 table games at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort contains three hundred slot machines and seventy table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 one armed bandits and 96 table games, including eighty seven baccarat (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 one armed bandits and 66 of the common tables, as well as a single table of Casino Stud Poker. One more of the 8 casinos in Poipet, also in a hotel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slot machine games and ninety seven table games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in an all-inclusive resort and hotel building that contains numerous conveniences on top of the gambling hall, which has ten thousand square feet of one hundred and thirty slots and 88 gaming tables.