[ English ]

There is a fascinating background to the Cambodia gambling dens that sit just over the dividing line from next door Thailand, where gambling hall wagering is not permitted. Eight gambling halls are anchored in a relatively small space in the city of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia casinos is in a prime spot, a 3 to four hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the two most popular wagering centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling dens do a huge business with Thai workers and guests from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a few Westerners. The astonishing capital accrued from the gambling halls ranges from 7.5 million dollars to over 12.5 million, and there are a few restrictions requirements for gambling den ownership. Ownership is assumed to be largely Thai; however, financing sources are ambiguous. The borders are officially open from 09:00 to 5:00 p.m., and though visas are supposedly required to pass, there are methods around this, as is correct of most border crossings.

The original Cambodia gambling dens opened in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving only 1 casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary boat gambling hall, highlights 150 one armed bandits and 60 tables. The Naga gambling hall never closes with forty two tables of mini-baccarat banque, four tables of 21, 10 of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and one each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.

The 1st gambling hall in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown before long followed. A total of 150 one armed bandits and five table games at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four one armed bandits and sixty eight table games at the Holiday Palace. The newer Holiday Palace Casino and Resort contains 300 one armed bandits and 70 gaming tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six one armed bandits and 96 gaming tables, including 87 baccarat (the most beloved game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five slot machines and 66 of the normal gaming tables, as well as a single table of Casino Stud Poker. One more of the 8 gambling halls in Poipet, again a part of a hotel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slots and ninety seven table games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an all-around vacation and hotel compound that features a number of conveniences on top of the gambling den, which provides ten thousand sq.ft. of 130 slot machine games and 88 gaming tables.