Lao Casino (Kings Romans)

[L&J]

We come up from Chiang Mai to visit the Kings Roman Casino on the Lao side of the Golden Triangle. Enjoy the

place and have always managed to cover expenses for four day trip to the north with winnings from the slots.

Every other time we visited we had to pay 500 baht each to Thai Immigration for a letter to Lao Immigration asking

permission for us to visit. Then we had to pay 200 baht to Lao Immigration officials. This week we found that you

no longer have to deal with the Thai Immigration and only have to pay the 200 baht to the Lao officials.

Would highly recommend not staying at the hotel attached to the Casino - poor rooms and way over-priced. You

do have to then get back across the river to Thailand before 6:00PM. No crossings allowed after dark.

[L&J]

UPDATE: NOVEMBER 19, 2012

DISREGARD ALL OF THE ABOVE POST - Today we found that it is not possible to cross

over to the Lao side of the Golden Trianle to go to the King Romans' Casino without getting

a Lao Visa on landing on the other side of the Mekong. The fee for this service is $42USD

which would probably amount to 1500B if you don't have the USDs. Absolutely absurd that

anyone is going to pay that just to go to the third class casino. Of course Thais don't have

to deal with the visa so apparently the motivation is either to discourage Western visitors or

someone has the stupid notion that sommeone is going to pay that $42USD for a day excursion.

[rmacdon61]

Correct me if I am wrong, but word was that a ferry service out of Chiang Saen was in operation that precluded a visa. This was supplied by the casino and the only requirement was to attend the casino?

[DangerousDavies]

So where do those little boats with the guys saying "casino, casino" take you?

[L&J]

The King Romans office here across from the Casino took us to their little building next to the

Thai Immigration Office. There they told us that unless you had a multi-entry Thai visa you

couldn't go at all and if you did you had to check-out of Thailand there and get the Lao visa

on the other side of the river. I have no idea about anything going out of Chiang Saen but the King Romans

people had no interest in directing us there. They knew they were losing our business so I can't

believe they wanted to mislead us. They brought out of list of Western visitors who have gone and paid

the $42 USD to verify what they were doing.

I don't think I'd want to go with some boatman who would drop you on the other side as coming back

to Thailand could really end up being a problem.

[Tomtomtom69]

If it's an official crossing then no reason why the Laotians can't ask for a visa fee if required by the foreign passport holder. Incidentally, some visitors such as Russians, Swiss, Luxembourg citizens, Japanese, Koreans and ASEAN nationals (except Myanmar) don't need Lao visas. Only Canadians pay US$42 though, other nationalities pay around US$30-35.

[SDH]

Correct me if I am wrong, but word was that a ferry service out of Chiang Saen was in operation that precluded a visa. This was supplied by the casino and the only requirement was to attend the casino?

Is it a fact, if so it would be very convenient, I usually go to the Myanmar casino on the Island, but am looking for a change....