Cambodia's casino loss is a Laos win

"After Cambodia started quarrelling with Thailand, casino fans are heading to casinos in Laos instead," a man familiar with the situation disclosed.

Identifying himself only as Porn, this van owner has driven Thai gamblers to casinos in Laos and Cambodia for a long time.

"Cambodia-based casinos used to be more popular but the trend is changing," Porn said.

He said more than 6,000 Thais are now heading to Laos-based casinos each day.

Van services have long facilitated the flow of Thai gamblers to casinos in Thailand's neighbours.

Casino operators are paying Bt5,000 a day or more for each van filled with casino goers, drivers picking up passengers from all provinces in Thailand's Northeast.

It remains unclear whether the Thai gamblers have spurned the gambling complexes in Cambodia out of nationalist sentiment alone. Another possible reason is that many are concerned Cambodia and Thailand may suddenly close their shared borders.

However, whatever the true reason, trade is brisk along the route from Thailand to Laos-based casinos.

"Casino goers from the vans drop in to buy icy beer and snacks from my shop every day," said shop owner Amnat Charoen.

He said local radio stations also enjoyed higher advertising revenue because casinos from Laos were now buying ad time too.

Pol Major Sompong Poonsri, an inspector at an immigration checkpoint in Mukdahan, said the number of Thais going to Laos had increased by 20 and 30 per cent over the past week.

"But I can't say whether they are gamblers changing their destination. The peak season for tourism has started. It's possible that the increase comes from holidaymakers," Sompong said.

According to another source, the number of Thai gamblers going past the Chongchom checkpoint had clearly reduced since ties between Thailand and Cambodia had turned sour.

"On a holiday, at least 4,000 Thais used to visit the casinos on the other side. But now, the number is down to no more than 1,000," the same source added.