There is a fascinating history to the Cambodia gambling dens that sit just over the border from neighboring Thailand, where casino wagering is banned. Eight gambling dens are based in a generally small area in the city of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia casinos is in a prime area, a three to four hour drive from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 largest gambling centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling dens do a huge business with Thai blue-collar workers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a couple of Westerners. The phenomenal income gained from the gambling dens ranges from seven and a half million dollars to over 12.5 million, and there are a number of limitations requirements for casino ownership. Ownership is presumed to be largely Thai; although, investment sources are ambiguous. The borders are officially open from 09:00 to 5:00 p.m., and although visas are apparently needed to cross, there are means around this, as is true of many border crossings.
The 1st Cambodia gambling halls premiered in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving only one casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a moored boat gambling hall, features 150 slot machines and sixty tables. The Naga river boat is open all day and night with forty two tables of mini-baccarat chemin de fer, four tables of chemin de fer, 10 of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 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 soon opened. There are 150 one armed bandits and 5 tables at the Golden Crown and 104 slot machine games and 68 tables at the Holiday Palace. The newer Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights 300 slots and 70 tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six one armed bandits and ninety six table games, including 87 baccarat (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Additionally, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five one armed bandits and 66 of the common table games, as well as a single table of Casino Stud Poker. An additional of the eight casinos in Poipet, again a part of a motel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slot machines and ninety seven casino games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an all-inclusive resort and hotel compound that highlights many amenities accompanying the casino, which contains ten thousand square feet of 130 slots and 88 table games.