There is an interesting history to the Cambodia gambling dens that lie just across the border from nearby Thailand, in which gambling hall betting is against the law. Eight gambling halls are established in a generally small space in the city of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling dens is in a prime area, a 3 to four hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the two largest betting locations in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a thriving business with Thai blue-collar workers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very couple of Westerners. The phenomenal income gained from the gambling dens ranges from 7.5 million dollars to over 12.5 million, and there are a couple of restrictions requirements for gambling hall ownership. Ownership is assumed to be largely Thai; however, financing sources are vague. The borders are ceremoniously open from 09:00 to 1700, and despite the fact visas are apparently required to cross, there are means around this, as is accurate of most border crossings.
The initial Cambodia casinos opened in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were forced to close in the late nineties, leaving only 1 gambling den in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a moored boat casino, highlights one hundred and fifty slot machines and 60 gaming tables. The Naga gambling den is open all day and night with forty two tables of mini-baccarat chemin de fer, 4 tables of blackjack, 10 of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The original gambling hall in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown quickly followed. A total of one hundred and fifty slots and five table games at the Golden Crown and 104 one armed bandits and 68 table games at the Holiday Palace. The latest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort contains three hundred slot machine games and seventy table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 slot machine games and 96 gaming tables, including eighty seven baccarat (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Additionally, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five slot machine games and sixty six of the normal tables, as well as a single table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the eight casinos in Poipet, also in a hotel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slot machine games and ninety seven casino games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an all-around vacation and hotel building that contains numerous amenities on top of the gambling den, which has 10,000 sq.ft. of 130 slot machines and 88 tables.