Donaco warns of 62 per cent fall in attendance at Star Vegas due to border tensions with Thailand
Donaco International has said that border tensions and restrictions at the Thailand-Cambodia border have impacted Donaco’s DNA Star Vegas casino operation, which is located in Poipet in Cambodia.
The operator said: “Thailand’s ban on Thai nationals crossing the border for non-essential travel, such as for tourism and gambling in casinos located in Cambodian border towns has resulted in Star Vegas experiencing a reduction in activity at its operations, including a 62 per cent reduction in the average daily headcount and a 42 per cent reduction in daily hotel occupancy since the measures were imposed. This trend is expected to impact Star Vegas’ profits for the month of June. While both governments have expressed commitments to resolving the border tensions, management will continue to monitor the situation closely and update shareholders as appropriate.”
Cambodia and Thailand have a long-standing history of disputes over mutual borders due to conflicting territorial claims. However, following a brief military clash on 28 May 2025, tensions along the border between Thailand and Cambodia have heightened. While both governments have expressed a commitment to resolving the border tensions, bilateral talks held on 14 June 2025 did not ultimately result in a resolution.
While the current situation is relatively calm, underlying disputes persist, and the Thai government continues to impose measures impacting movements across the border. These measures came into effect on 8 June 2025.
Restrictions impacting Star Vegas include reduced operating hours at key border crossings, including the Aranyaprathet-Poipet border checkpoint.
