Poker in Phnom Penh - REVIEW

When you think of Cambodia, probably you'll think of Angkor Wat, cheap beer, the Khmer Rouge, but seldom would you consider it to be a poker destination. But I am going to tell you why it's a great place to go for some fun and poker!

Cold coconut on Hot day in Siem Reap

The last time I visited was 5 years ago and man so much has changed. Phnom Penh has become a bustling international city. I am so surprised that many Cambodians speak English and speak it well. I've also seen guides who speak Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese and Korean fluently. Most shop signs are multi-lingual and foreigner friendly. My first impression 5 years ago wasn't that great but this time round I am quite impressed.

As far as I know, there are 3 main poker rooms in Phnom Penh. Nagaworld is the main casino, but I went there and felt it was quite dark and the games only start at night. Riverking is the other one but I didn't go there. The latest one is called Poker Ace. Games start at around noon everyday. Free food, free drinks. (The food is really good, you can order steak, salmon, etc) Rake is reasonably low, about 3bb, pretty good for Asian standards. Dealers are fast, speak English and some even speak Mandarin. Holdem, Omaha game are available starting from US$1/3 to 10/20. Location is good too, it's inside an entertainment center, so if you want to get a massage, or sing your bad beats away at the KTV, they are just next door.

I ordered Duck Breast with Mash Potatoes. Yummy and FREE!

Most people are put off by uncertainty. After coming here a second time, I highly recommend making it one of your poker stops in Asia. The city is pretty cool for a developing country, much better than Manila or Jakarta in my opinion. Food isn't as great as Vietnam but you have lots of choices with international franchises everywhere. It feels really safe but you might have the odd tuk-tuk driver trying to scam you for more money, but you can get around that by downloading PassApp, I call it "Uber for Tuktuks".

I had a good day. I suggest to bring your sunglasses for this game though haha (Bright table)

If you like more information, you can contact me (happyriverpoker@gmail.com) for more details. The poker room can provide airport pick up, hotel arrangements, local guide etc to save you the hassle and stress. Check out my YouTube Channel for a short video I made about poker in Cambodia.