Poker in South East Asia

[baldock92]

Hi blondes,

I'm currently 8 weeks into a backpacking trip through South East Asia, and am currently in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where I've seen casinos for the first time. I thought gambling throughout SE Asia was illegal but obviously not (unless there's a huge corruption involving the Cambodian casino's and and the government, which would not surprise me).

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone knew of some good places to play a causal game of poker Nothing high stakes, just a casual 1-2 stakes to get my fix whilst away from home that is relatively safe. Any advice is very much welcome, even if it's just " GTFO, do not gamble here".

[bergeroo]

what countries are you planning to visit? Do you like to play MTTs too or just cash?

[baldock92]

Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Phillipines.

Preferably cash so I can leave at any point, but open to MTT's aswell

[dakky]

Loads of poker in Phillipines. There's a city of dreams opened in Manila since I went alongside resorts world which had a load of games. Solaire I'm not sure about. There's also loads of little casinos and poker clubs around the capital. Singapore has games also I think (just two casinos) but can't remember the details.

[bergeroo]

There is an Asian Poker Tour in Cebu from 10-18 February and I'm sure there will be lots of side action and yeah there are several places to play in Manila it seems.
http://www.theasianpokertour.com/apt-events/apt-asian-poker-series-cebu-2016

There's a very active community for thailand on twoplustwo, it seems like there is a lot of semi legal poker on offer in expat bars in different Asian cities as most don't have casinos

 I played quite a bit in Korea but that's not on your trail...

Sounds like a great trip. Enjoy and report back!

[baldock92]

Thanks for the replies folks. Phillipines isn't for a few months still so hoping to find something before then. Going to walk around now to try a nice 1-2 game in Sihanoukville full is pissed up tourists before the Stoke game later! If I find anything I'll post back on here, even though I doubt many will be able to use the information haha

[bergeroo]

There is a thread on twoplustwo from some regs who are playing in 'Snookyville' - I will PM you the link as not sure if it is cool to put links to rival forums etc...

[baldock92]

Found a chilled $1-$1 game going at the Lion Casino, speaking to one of the pensioners playing there seems to be some sort of game going at all times. Only managed to play for an hour but it was great to get that buzz back again and record a huge $16 profit (wafer thin).

[Woodsey]

Naga world in Phnom Penh had decent games, but that is 4 or 5 years ago I was there.

As mentioned Manila has a few places, I played at resorts world, there is a casino in Cebu that has poker, planned to go one night but never made it. I probably wouldn't bother playing in the Philippines, the games are just full of local nits waiting to fleece tourists and a fair chance of collusion too, not really fun games to play in. Don't think I'd fancy walking anywhere in the Phillipines if any locals knew I had a lump,of money in my pocket either...

I understand Singapore has poker now too, never played there though.

[baldock92]

I'll be heading back to Phnom Penh in a couple of weeks to sort a visa for Vietnam out so thanks for that! I can feed the itch to play a few more times at least!

[GreekStein]

send a pm to AJ Brock on facebook.

He runs a card room in Cambodia, used to be the poker room manager for Wynn Macau. He will give you any tips on poker in Asia.