There is a captivating history to the Cambodia gambling halls that lie just across the border from neighboring Thailand, in which casino betting is against the law. Eight gambling halls are situated in a relatively tiny location in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This group of Cambodia casinos is in a perfect area, a 3 to four hour drive from Bangkok and Macao, the two largest wagering centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling halls do a thriving business with Thai blue-collar workers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very few Westerners. The astonishing income acquired from the casinos ranges from seven and a half million dollars to more than 12.5 million dollars, and there are a number of controls constraints for gambling den ownership. Ownership is presumed to be largely Thai; however, financing sources are cryptic. The borders are ceremoniously open from 09:00 to 5:00 p.m., and though visas are allegedly needed to pass, there are methods around this, as is true of most borders.
The first Cambodia gambling halls opened in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were required to close in 1998, leaving only 1 casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a docked bateau casino, contains one hundred and fifty slots and 60 gaming tables. The Naga gambling den never closes with forty two tables of mini-baccarat banque, four tables of chemin de fer, ten of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The original gambling den in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown soon followed. A total of one hundred and fifty slot machines and 5 table games at the Golden Crown and 104 slots and 68 tables at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort contains 300 slot machines and seventy gaming tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slot machines and ninety six gaming tables, including eighty seven baccarat (the most beloved game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Additionally, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 one armed bandits and 66 of the normal tables, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. An additional of the eight gambling dens in Poipet, also in a hotel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slot machine games and 97 casino games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in an international vacation and hotel compound that highlights a number of amenities on top of the gambling den, which offers 10,000 sq.ft. of 130 slot machines and 88 gaming tables.