There is an interesting background to the Cambodia gambling halls that sit just across the border from next door Thailand, where casino wagering is banned. Eight gambling halls are situated in a generally tiny location in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This group of Cambodia casinos is in a perfect area, a 3 to 4 hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the two most popular wagering locations in Asia. Cambodia gambling halls do a thriving business with Thai blue-collar workers and visitors from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very couple of Westerners. The amazing capital accrued from the casinos ranges from seven and a half million dollars to more than 12.5 million, and there are a number of limitations requirements for gambling den ownership. Ownership is required to be mainly Thai; although, investment sources are vague. The borders are officially open from 0900 to 17:00, and although visas are apparently needed to pass, there are methods around this, as is correct of many border crossings.
The original Cambodia casinos premiered in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were required to close in the late nineties, leaving only 1 gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary ship gambling den, features 150 one armed bandits and 60 tables. The Naga casino never closes with 42 tables of mini-baccarat banque, four tables of vingt-et-un, 10 of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The first gambling den in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown quickly followed. A total of one hundred and fifty one armed bandits and five tables at the Golden Crown and 104 slots and 68 table games at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights 300 one armed bandits and 70 table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 slot machines and ninety six table games, including eighty seven baccarat banque (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machine games and 66 of the common gaming tables, as well as 1 table of Casino Stud Poker. An additional of the 8 gambling halls in Poipet, again in a motel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slot machines and 97 casino games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in a multinational vacation and hotel compound that contains many luxuries aside from the casino, which contains ten thousand square feet of one hundred and thirty one armed bandits and 88 gaming tables.