TEN popular casinos at Cambodia’s Poipet border town, just opposite Rong Kluea market in Aranyaprathet subdistrict, Sa Kaeo province, are now extremely quiet with Thai gamblers staying away after a border dispute flared up between the two countries as even though the dispute has now eased restricted checkpoint opening hours is still in place, Naewna newspaper said today (June 10).
Moreover, these casinos have ordered over 80% of their Thai employees to return to their country while preparing to install backup generators in case Thailand cuts off electricity supply and Internet services.
Lt. Col. Saroj Yotha, commander of 1201st Ranger Company, together with Immigration and Customs police officers still kept up restricted opening of Ban Klong Luek border checkpoint from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. rather than 10 p.m. previously while Cambodia opens the crossing an hour later at 9 a.m. with this being the fourth day of tight control.
They continued to strictly prevent Thai gamblers from crossing over to Poipet with only Thais working there allowed to do so for seven days after both sides drastically shortened visas to only these many days.
Mr. Yo, an employee of a casino in Poipet, said aside from these casinos becoming very quiet as Thai gamblers stay away around 50 companies that arrange for gamblers to cross over to Poipet have all closed down.
Thousands of Thais queued up to cross over after the Cambodian side of the checkpoint opened at 9 a.m. this morning with Pol. Col. Naphatphong Supaporn, superintendent of the Sa Kaeo Immigration Police, having to order additional immigration officers to help out.
Since Saturday June 7 around 5,000 Thais working at these casinos and doing business there have crossed back each day and it is estimated that around 20,000 would have returned by late afternoon today.
The 10 popular Poipet casinos are Holiday Palace, Grand Diamond, Star Vegas, Poipet Resort, Golden Crown, Tropicana, Diamond City, Star Gold, OK VIP and DNA Casino.
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Thais returning from Poipet. Photos: Naewna
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