There is an appealing story to the Cambodia casinos that sit just over the border from next door Thailand, in which gambling den gaming is illegal. Eight gambling dens are established in a generally tiny area in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling dens is in a perfect location, a 3 to four hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the two most popular betting centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling dens do a huge business with Thai blue-collar workers and visitors from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very few Westerners. The amazing income accrued 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 number of limitations requirements for gambling hall ownership. Ownership is required to be mainly Thai; still, investment sources are cryptic. The borders are ceremoniously open from 9:00 a.m. to 17:00, and though visas are apparently required to cross, there are methods around this, as is correct of most border crossings.
The original Cambodia casinos premiered in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving only a single gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary ship gambling hall, highlights 150 slot machine games and sixty gaming tables. The Naga river boat is open 24 hours with 42 tables of mini-baccarat chemin de fer, 4 tables of chemin de fer, ten of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and a single table each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The initial gambling den in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown soon opened. A total of 150 slot machines and 5 table games at the Golden Crown and 104 slot machines and 68 tables at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights 300 slots and seventy tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slot machines and 96 gaming tables, including eighty seven punto banco (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five slots and 66 of the normal gaming tables, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. An additional of the 8 gambling halls in Poipet, also in a hotel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slot machine games and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in an all-inclusive resort and hotel building that highlights many conveniences on top of the gambling hall, which provides 10,000 square feet of one hundred and thirty slot machine games and 88 tables.