[ English ]

There is an interesting history to the Cambodia gambling dens that sit just over the dividing line from nearby Thailand, where gambling den betting is prohibited. Eight casinos are situated in a relatively tiny area in the city of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling halls is in a perfect spot, a 3 to four hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the two most popular wagering centers in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a thriving business with Thai workers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very couple of Westerners. The amazing capital acquired from the casinos ranges from $7.5 million to more than 12.5 million, and there are a couple of controls requirements for casino ownership. Ownership is assumed to be mostly Thai; although, financial sources are cryptic. The borders are ceremoniously open from 0900 to 17:00, and though visas are for all intents and purposes required to pass, there are methods and means around this, as is correct of most border crossings.

The 1st Cambodia gambling halls premiered in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were required to close in 1998, leaving only a single casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a moored ship casino, contains one hundred and fifty one armed bandits and 60 tables. The Naga river boat never closes with forty two tables of mini-punto banco, four tables of vingt-et-un, 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 1999 and the Golden Crown before long followed. A total of one hundred and fifty slots and five tables at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four slots and 68 table games at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights three hundred slots and seventy gaming tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 one armed bandits and 96 gaming tables, including 87 baccarat banque (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machines and 66 of the normal table games, as well as a single table of Casino Stud Poker. One more of the eight gambling halls in Poipet, also a part of a hotel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slots and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in an international vacation and hotel compound that features numerous comforts in addition to the casino, which contains ten thousand square feet of one hundred and thirty slot machine games and 88 tables.