Cambodia Gambling Halls
There is a fascinating background to the Cambodia gambling dens that sit just across the dividing line from next door Thailand, in which gambling hall betting is not allowed. Eight gambling dens are established in a relatively small location in the municipality of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling dens is in a perfect spot, a 3 to 4 hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 most popular betting centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling halls do a huge business with Thai blue-collar workers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a few Westerners. The astonishing income gained from the gambling dens ranges from seven and a half million dollars to over 12.5 million dollars, and there are a number of limitations requirements for gambling den ownership. Ownership is presumed to be mainly Thai; although, financing sources are vague. The borders are officially open from 09:00 to 17:00, and although visas are supposedly required to cross, there are methods and means around this, as is correct of most border crossings.
The initial Cambodia casinos opened in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were required to close in 1998, leaving only a single casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a docked ship casino, highlights 150 slot machines and sixty tables. The Naga river boat never closes with 42 tables of mini-baccarat chemin de fer, four tables of blackjack, ten of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and one each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The initial gambling hall in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown before long followed. There are one hundred and fifty slots and five tables at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four slot machine games and 68 tables at the Holiday Palace. The newer Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights 300 slot machines and 70 table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six one armed bandits and ninety six gaming tables, including 87 punto banco (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machines and sixty six of the normal table games, as well as 1 table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the eight gambling dens in Poipet, again a part of a hotel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slot machines and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an international resort and hotel compound that features numerous amenities aside from the gambling den, which provides 10,000 sq.ft. of one hundred and thirty slot machines and 88 gaming tables.