There is an appealing background to the Cambodia gambling halls that lie just over the dividing line from next door Thailand, in which casino gaming is not allowed. Eight gambling halls are established in a relatively small area in the city of Poipet in Cambodia. This band of Cambodia gambling halls is in a prime spot, a three to four hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 largest betting locations in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a thriving business with Thai laborers and guests from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a couple of Westerners. The amazing income gained from the gambling halls ranges from $7.5 million to over 12.5 million dollars, and there are a number of limitations constraints for casino ownership. Ownership is presumed to be mainly Thai; still, financial sources are ambiguous. The borders are formally open from 09:00 to 1700, and although visas are apparently necessary to cross, there are methods and means around this, as is real of many borders.
The first Cambodia gambling dens opened in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were required to close in the late nineties, leaving just 1 gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary bateau gambling hall, features 150 slot machines and sixty tables. The Naga gambling hall never closes with 42 tables of mini-baccarat, four tables of 21, 10 of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The 1st casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown quickly opened. There are one hundred and fifty one armed bandits and 5 tables at the Golden Crown and 104 one armed bandits and 68 table games at the Holiday Palace. The newer Holiday Palace Casino and Resort contains 300 slots and 70 tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 one armed bandits and ninety six gaming tables, including 87 baccarat banque (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Additionally, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slots and sixty six of the common tables, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the eight casinos in Poipet, again a part of a hotel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slot machines and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in an all-around resort and hotel building that features a number of amenities in addition to the casino, which houses 10,000 sq.ft. of 130 slots and 88 table games.