There is a captivating background to the Cambodia gambling dens that reside just over the dividing line from neighboring Thailand, in which casino betting is illegal. Eight casinos are based in a relatively tiny space in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This group of Cambodia gambling dens is in a perfect location, a three to 4 hour drive from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 biggest betting 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 casinos ranges from $7.5 million to over twelve and a half million dollars, and there are a few limitations constraints for gambling den ownership. Ownership is presumed to be largely Thai; however, financing sources are vague. The borders are officially open from 09:00 to 5:00 p.m., and though visas are for all intents and purposes required to cross, there are means around this, as is true of many border crossings.
The original Cambodia gambling dens opened in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in the late nineties, leaving only 1 gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a moored barge gambling den, highlights 150 slot machines and 60 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 first gambling hall in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, opened in 1999 and the Golden Crown quickly opened. A total of one hundred and fifty one armed bandits and five tables at the Golden Crown and 104 slots and sixty eight tables at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights three hundred slot machine games and 70 tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six one armed bandits and 96 table games, including 87 baccarat chemin de fer (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Additionally, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machine games and sixty six of the normal table games, 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 166 slot machine games and 97 casino games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an international resort and hotel compound that contains many conveniences accompanying the casino, which provides ten thousand square feet of 130 one armed bandits and 88 tables.