Saturday, February 27, 2010
Cambodia enters casino 'war'
Cambodia opened a luxurious, US$100mil (RM340mil) casino on Friday hoping to attract more foreign tourists and promote its fast-growing entertainment industry.
The Titan King Casino, located along the Vietnam border, is one of a number that have sprung up along the country's frontiers with Vietnam and Thailand, attracting thousands of gamblers.
The Ministry of Finance says Cambodia earned US$19mil (RM64.6mil) from 29 casinos in 2008. But revenue fell to US$17mil (RM57.8mil) in 2009 because of a decline in tourist arrivals and a border dispute with Thailand.
The Titan King Casino is owned by Kith Thieng, a business tycoon close to Prime Minister Hun Sen.
In a message posted on the casino's website, Kith Thieng said the town of Bavet, where the casino is located, was fast becoming an entertainment centre, "much like Las Vegas and Macau". Bavet is 110 km south-east of the capital Phnom Penh.
Hear Sopheaktra, assistant to the owner, said the casino would help attract more foreign tourists.
- Traveler.
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