There is a captivating history to the Cambodia gambling halls that sit just across the border from nearby Thailand, in which casino betting is illegal. Eight gambling dens are established in a relatively small location in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This band of Cambodia casinos is in a perfect area, a three to four hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the two biggest gaming locations in Asia. Cambodia gambling dens do a huge business with Thai workers and tourists from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a couple of Westerners. The astonishing income accrued from the casinos ranges from $7.5 million to more than 12.5 million dollars, and there are a number of limitations constraints for gambling den ownership. Ownership is required to be mostly Thai; although, funding sources are cryptic. The borders are formally open from 09:00 to 1700, and though visas are apparently needed to cross, there are means around this, as is correct of many borders.
The initial Cambodia gambling halls premiered in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in the late nineties, leaving only a single gambling den in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, an anchored bateau gambling hall, highlights one hundred and fifty slot machines and 60 table games. The Naga river boat is open 24 hours with 42 tables of mini-baccarat banque, four tables of twenty-one, ten of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and one each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The first casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown soon followed. A total of 150 one armed bandits and five tables at the Golden Crown and 104 slot machines and sixty eight table games at the Holiday Palace. The newer Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features 300 slot machine games and 70 table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slot machine games and ninety six gaming tables, including eighty seven punto banco (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slots and sixty six of the normal gaming tables, as well as 1 table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the eight casinos in Poipet, again in a motel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slot machine games and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of a comprehensive vacation and hotel compound that contains numerous comforts in addition to the gambling den, which houses ten thousand sq.ft. of 130 one armed bandits and 88 gaming tables.