There is a fascinating history to the Cambodia gambling halls that lie just across the border from neighboring Thailand, in which gambling den gaming is illegal. Eight gambling dens are based in a relatively small location in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This collection of Cambodia gambling dens is in a perfect area, a 3 to four hour drive from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 largest gaming centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling dens do a huge business with Thai workers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a few Westerners. The phenomenal income gained from the gambling dens ranges from seven and a half million dollars to more than twelve and a half million dollars, and there are a few restrictions constraints for gambling hall ownership. Ownership is assumed to be largely Thai; however, financing sources are cryptic. The borders are ceremoniously open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and although visas are for all intents and purposes needed to cross, there are means around this, as is true of most borders.
The 1st Cambodia gambling dens opened in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving only one gambling den in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary boat casino, features one hundred and fifty slot machines and 60 tables. The Naga gambling den never closes with 42 tables of mini-punto banco, four tables of blackjack, ten of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and a single table each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The 1st casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown soon opened. There are one hundred and fifty one armed bandits and five table games at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four slot machines and sixty eight table games at the Holiday Palace. The latest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort contains three hundred 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 eighty seven punto banco (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five slot machines and sixty six of the common gaming tables, as well as 1 table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the eight gambling halls in Poipet, again in a hotel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slot machines and 97 casino games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an international vacation and hotel complex that contains numerous comforts in addition to the gambling hall, which houses 10,000 sq.ft. of 130 one armed bandits and 88 table games.