Thaksin unlikely to start casino in Cambodia: Source

Asked not to be named, he said Thaksin has decided to freeze the investment due to huge investment involved. The worsening diplomatic relation between Thailand and Cambodia is the new factor to affirm that it is not the right time for Thaksin to invest in the project as his entertainment project mainly targets Thai gamblers.

"The closely relationship between Thaksin and Hun Sen could not help him to proceed with the project," the source said. Still, he admitted that he did not talk to Thaksin after the latter's arrival in Phnom Penh.

 The source said the casino scale was too big, while other Asian countries such Singapore and Macau had open casino complexes in the countries. So, gamblers will absolutely head to those destinations instead of Koh Kong. Thaksin used to propose this project to his Middle Eastern friends and overseas funds located in Dubai but they denied supporting budgets for the project because of low returns.

The entertainment complex comprises of a large-scale casino similar to that in Las Vegas, and hotels. The project needs investment budget of no less than Bt1 billion.

"It is quite confirmed that he (Thaksin) has frozen his investment idea in Cambodia a few years ago, and the plan is absolutely deferred to over the next two or three years," the source said.