Cambodia’s gambling sector has been drawn into the country’s border dispute with Thailand.
Fuelled by gunfire and the death of a Cambodian soldier at the border in May, the latest development in a dispute that is showing few signs of dwindling has seen Thailand ban its citizens from crossing the border.
It’s a move that halts the ability of Thai citizens to work in Poipet at the Cambodian city’s various casinos, gambling dens and venues.
The Thai Army, which issued the order, emphasised that it has been pursued in a bid to ensure the safety of Thai citizens.
It comes amidst a history of dispute over the sovereignty of the land around the border, leading to political dispute and the current disruptions in the country.
Furthermore, the back and forth has also led to a significant fall in Cambodia’s Star Vegas Resort as a result of tighter border enforcement from the Thai government.
Dramatically, this included a 62% drop in headcount for the casino, which has been majorly impacted by the new regulations as a result of the dispute.
Ambitions outlined by both governments to settle the dispute will be supported by the casino, as it looks to return to full operating scale.
Nonetheless, it does underpin the significant appetite of Thai citizens to play in a land-based casino, something that will have alerted the allure of Thai regulators as they iron out the kinks within their regulatory framework for integrated resorts.
In a recent intervention, MGM Resorts’ President of Global Development, Ed Bowers, urged the Thai Government to ensure that residents would be able to engage with casino resorts.
Speaking to the Bangkok Post, he stated that the regulators in the country should look to establish close collaboration with operators to ensure the sector can thrive and maximise the economic uplift.
Bowers underpinned the handicaps that come with offering tourist-only engagement for operators looking to build a footprint in the market.
