There is an interesting context for Cambodian casinos hawkplay which are just across the border from neighboring Thailand, where casino gambling is illegal. Eight casinos are located in a relatively small area of the city of Poipet in Cambodia. Cambodia’s casino industry is conveniently located, three or four minutes’ drive from Bangkok and Macau, the two largest casinos in Asia. Cambodian casinos do business with Thai workers and visitors from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, while there are only a few westerners. The income from amazing casinos ranges from $7.5 million to $12.5 million, and there are few restrictions or registrations for owning a casino. The owner is thought to be very Thai; However, the source of the investment is unclear. The border is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and although a visa is required to cross, there is a way around this, as with most border crossings.
Cambodia’s first casinos hawkplay opened in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving only one casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. Naga, a cruise ship stop, offers 150 slot machines and 60 …
