There is an interesting history to the Cambodia gambling dens that reside just over the border from next door Thailand, where gambling hall betting is against the law. Eight gambling dens are established in a relatively tiny area in the municipality of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling dens is in a perfect location, a three to four hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 biggest gambling locations in Asia. Cambodia gambling dens do a thriving business with Thai blue-collar workers and visitors from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a couple of Westerners. The phenomenal income acquired from the casinos ranges from $7.5 million to over twelve and a half million dollars, and there are a number of controls requirements for casino ownership. Ownership is presumed to be largely Thai; although, financing sources are ambiguous. The borders are formally open from 0900 to 1700, and although visas are for all intents and purposes required to pass, there are methods and means around this, as is real of many borders.

The first Cambodia gambling dens premiered in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were required to close in 1998, leaving just one casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary ship casino, contains one hundred and fifty slot machines and sixty tables. The Naga river boat never closes with forty two tables of mini-baccarat, 4 tables of blackjack, 10 of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and a single table each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.

The original casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown quickly opened. There are 150 slot machines and 5 table games at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four slot machines and sixty eight tables at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort contains three hundred one armed bandits and seventy tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slot machines and 96 table games, including eighty seven baccarat chemin de fer (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machines and sixty six of the normal table games, as well as a single table of Casino Stud Poker. An additional of the 8 casinos in Poipet, also a part of a motel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slot machines and ninety seven table games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an all-inclusive resort and hotel compound that highlights numerous comforts accompanying the gambling hall, which contains 10,000 sq.ft. of one hundred and thirty slot machine games and 88 table games.