Known more for sun and miles of golden sand than as a poker heaven, but it wouldn’t be paradise without hold’em poker in Asia
Poker in Thailand
The first thing you need to understand is that gambling in Thailand is illegal. The second thing is that given the gambling mentality of Southeast Asia as a whole, that doesn’t really matter at all – if there’s an opportunity to gamble the punters will take it. Having said that there are no casinos in Thailand and to find a legal game of poker you have to cross the border into Laos or Cambodia.
The most popular choice for locals and visitors alike is Poipet, a small town in Western Cambodia near the Thai border. It is a haven for gambling, with eight casinos, and little other reason for visiting. Poker is still a niche market, but you can find tables at the Golden Crown Casino, the Holiday Palace Casino or the Princess Hotel and Casino. Be warned though: this is not Vegas – so beware of street crime and tourist scams.
Poker in the Philippines
Gambling in the Philippines is controlled by the government, who run all 15 of the casinos dotted around the country. The biggest is the four-floor Casino Manila, which has recently woken up to the poker boom. Located in the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the casino hosts weekly hold’em tournaments every Wednesday and Thursday. A card room is in the process of construction, where regular cash games will run alongside an improved tournament schedule once completed in September. You should have no trouble following the action at the table, as English is widely spoken.
How to get there
Return flights to Bangkok are priced around the £450-£550 mark, with Qatar, Thai, Emirates, Singapore and Malaysia Airways. For budget hunters, you can go as low as £270 with Gulf Air. Aeroflot are even cheaper, but we suggest you give them a steer. You’ll find a similar range of prices to the Philippines, with airlines such as Qatar and Cathay Pacific the best options. Once there, internal flights are dirt cheap.
Eat, sleep, explore Thailand
Upon landing in Bangkok, you’ll be hit by the smog and humidity, but don’t let that put you off. The city is spilling over with culture and excitement. The famous Patpong red light district isn’t just about strip joints, but you should approach it with caution nonetheless.
You can take your pick when it comes to food, from street satay shacks to classy food halls. Budget accommodation starts at the backpacking mecca on the Koh Sahn Road, while other recommended economy-to-higher end locations start at the Dream Bangkok Hotel and the Asia Hotel.
The southern islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are two of the most popular tourist haunts, but the former has lost much of its culture in the last ten years. Koh Tao and Koh Lanta are picturesque diving spots, while Krabi (Railay) remains a popular family destination.
Eat, sleep, explore the Philippines
If you want to play poker, then you need to stay in the capital of Manila. The city is best explored from a base in the business district of Makati – where most of the luxury hotels are. However, if you want to keep it simple, we’d recommend staying at the Regency Hyatt Hotel itself in nearby Pasay.
Outside Manila, there’s plenty to explore from the awesome volcano in Tagaytay to the Banaue Rice Terraces. There are also hundreds of pristine beaches dotted around the 7,000+ islands, including the ever popular Boracay Island – just a short flight from Manila.
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