Cambodia is a tale of two regions when it comes to casinos post-pandemic. It was one of the first countries in Asia to put out the welcome sign to international travelers. Yet, the casinos along its border have struggled to overcome maintenance and labor issues.
The border with Thailand reopened May 1 and an agreement has also been reached to reopen the Vietnamese border. The relaxation should spur the tourism sector that is so important to the GDP. The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic decreased international travelers by 80 percent, according to Asia Gaming Brief.
The number of tourists coming to Cambodia to see the iconic Angkor Wat jumped 622 percent in the first four months of the year.
But Cambodia’s border casinos have primarily depended on foot traffic from Thailand or Vietnam.
Speaking to Khmer Times, Ros Phirun, deputy-director general of the Finance Ministry of Cambodia, said a number of hurdles face border casinos.
“I have noticed that some owners wish to resume their business operations, but it is still impossible because their facilities were closed down for a long time. They also need to hire people for work.”
Many casinos in these areas have yet to apply to renew their license even as other regions have resumed play.
Hak Vy, a hotel manager at Titan King Casino Hotel and Resort in Bavet City, said the lack of maintenance has damaged some casino facilities.
“I think it would be difficult to recruit the staff back because we have lost contact with many of them. Others might have switched to other sectors, including factories,” he said.
Australia-listed Donaco International has said it will reopen its Star Vegas casino in Poipet once it receives the green light from the government.
“The March quarter has been another challenging period for Donaco,” said Chair Paul Porntat. “We are ready to resume our Star Vegas casino as conditions improve and once we receive the go-ahead from government authorities.”
“We are almost at the end of this bumpy journey,” he said.
Donaco said it was borrowing $5 million from CEO and Executive Director Lee Bug Huy, who has made an investment decision to offer financial assistance to the company while casino operations remain limited.
