Cambodia Poipet Border Question: Gambling?

[LynnSmith]

I'm thinking of staying overnight at the Cambodia border. I hear they have some casinos there, might be fun for a few hours. Are they decent? Are they air conditioned? Does anyone know if they have poker, or what games they have?

Is there quality accomodation anywhere, and a good restaurant?

Does anyone else ever stay the night, or make a bee-line and head right back for Thailand?

Is there any info on the internet about what's at the border?

[Jimjim]

The casinos at the border do look pretty big. I'd say it'd be worth it for one night. You can take one of the casino buses for free if you can convince that you really are going to stay at the hotel for the night and gamble rather than just making a visa run. Probably you'll have to pay 100 baht though. I always wondered what the visa process was, though. Since the casinos are technically in between both immigration checkpoints, do you get a stamp in to Cambodia the day you get there and go back to the casino, or do you have to go past the checkpoint and go back out of Cambodia through the exit line and spend a day no-man's land?

[ozzydom]

If you want to spend the night at Poipet ,You check out of Thailand ,then proceed to Cambodia Immigration about 200metres on the right hand side and check into Cambodia.

Once you have your entry stamp you can either cross the road and exit Cambo or go find accom and exit at your leisure (depending if busy).

Then if you are staying the night just re-enter Thailand next morning.

I always stay at the Holiday Palace ,which is the first casino on your right after Thai Imm. usually I book in to get rid of my bag ,then go to Cambodian Imm .

Rooms are pretty good,air-con ,cable etc. You pay 1k room deposit and 1k room for which you receive a 500 baht gambling chip , you can cash in the chip if you prefer to play the slots,they charge 10% to cash ,so the room ends up costing you 550 baht a night.

Japanese and Chinese restuarants on the premises or try the other casinos food outlets.

Other than the casino strip ,98% of Poipet is unpaved and muddy at this time of year,and there is nothing of interest there. (the main market is on the Thai side ) Plenty of unsavoury touts and conmen and worse,if you believe what is written.

They say you should not venture out at night,but I have wandered around the casino strip till all hours with no problems,(its pretty well lit). If you are nervous and out at night, I have known people to sling the security guards who work outside each casino a few baht to escort you to your hotel.

[MintyAussie]

If you want to spend the night at Poipet ,You check out of Thailand ,then proceed to Cambodia Immigration about 200metres on the right hand side and check into Cambodia.

Once you have your entry stamp you can either cross the road and exit Cambo or go find accom and exit at your leisure (depending if busy).

Then if you are staying the night just re-enter Thailand next morning.

I always stay at the Holiday Palace ,which is the first casino on your right after Thai Imm. usually I book in to get rid of my bag ,then go to Cambodian Imm .

Rooms are pretty good,air-con ,cable etc. You pay 1k room deposit and 1k room for which you receive a 500 baht gambling chip , you can cash in the chip if you prefer to play the slots,they charge 10% to cash ,so the room ends up costing you 550 baht a night.

Japanese and Chinese restuarants on the premises or try the other casinos food outlets.

Other than the casino strip ,98% of Poipet is unpaved and muddy at this time of year,and there is nothing of interest there. (the main market is on the Thai side ) Plenty of unsavoury touts and conmen and worse,if you believe what is written.

They say you should not venture out at night,but I have wandered around the casino strip till all hours with no problems,(its pretty well lit). If you are nervous and out at night, I have known people to sling the security guards who work outside each casino a few baht to escort you to your hotel.

I did a similar thing as Ozzydom.

Last year, me and my Thai lady stayed 2 nights at the Casinos, think it was Grand Diamond. She checked in, with me out of sight and only paid 500b per night, with free food vouchers and some free gambling chips. We had an easy time, and even won enough cash to pay for our bus ticket and my visas.

[guava]

There are about 10 casinos in Poipet. The 2 of them I've been in, while not the Venetian Macau or even close to world-class, are comfortable enough and far more opulent than the dusty/muddy, tout and beggar-infested surrounds. Poipet is otherwise a complete hole.

Cheap buffets and the usual casino stuff. Pretty sure we got free drinks, cigs, snacks at the tables. Didn't stay overnight, so no idea on the roooms, but imagine they'd be solid 3-4 star quality.

Google "poipet casino" for pics, vids, more details.

From memory, they had the usual card games (much more baccarat than blackjack), roulette, pai gow, maybe sic bo, and machines, and some mechanical horse racing table thing that looked pretty dodgy. Didn't see any Texas Holdem but wouldn't be surprised if it is played somewhere.