There is a fascinating history to the Cambodia gambling halls that lie just over the border from next door Thailand, where gambling hall betting is banned. Eight casinos are anchored 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 trip from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 largest betting locations in Asia. Cambodia gambling dens do a huge business with Thai laborers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a couple of Westerners. The astonishing income accrued from the casinos ranges from seven and a half million dollars to over 12.5 million, and there are a few controls requirements for casino ownership. Ownership is presumed to be largely Thai; although, funding sources are ambiguous. The borders are officially open from 0900 to 1700, and despite the fact visas are allegedly necessary to cross, there are ways around this, as is correct of many borders.

The 1st Cambodia gambling dens premiered in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving just 1 gambling den in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary bateau casino, highlights 150 one armed bandits and 60 tables. The Naga river boat is open 24 hours with forty two tables of mini-baccarat banque, four tables of 21, ten of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and a single table each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.

The original casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, opened in 1999 and the Golden Crown soon followed. There are one hundred and fifty slot machine games and 5 tables at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four one armed bandits and sixty eight tables at the Holiday Palace. The newer Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features 300 slots and 70 tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six one armed bandits and 96 gaming tables, including 87 baccarat (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Additionally, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five slot machine games and 66 of the familiar gaming tables, as well as a single table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the 8 casinos in Poipet, also in a motel, is the Princess Casino with 166 one armed bandits and 97 table games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in a multinational resort and hotel compound that highlights a number of luxuries in addition to the gambling den, which offers ten thousand sq.ft. of one hundred and thirty one armed bandits and eighty eight table games.