Living in Cambodia and turning Pro
This is my story and if anyone wants advice on joining me then let me know.
I’m originally from the UK, London and have been playing poker for around 6 years to varying success but as it was to secondary work never really committed. Then the economic down turn happened I sold business (a night club) and I thought I’d take a couple of years out in a cheap foreign country.
I live on the Cambodian coast in a place called Sihanoukville, about four hours drive from the capital Phnom Peng. It’s a beautiful little spot with 5 beaches and with the Thai border 4 hours drive to the west and Vietnam about 5 hours to the east. It has a vibrant night life, with a number of clubs, beach bars and western and local restaurants (and 3 casinos). The sex trade is a lot less prevalent than Thailand and the place has a mixture of backpackers passing through, holiday makers from Phnom Peng and a large friendly expat community.
So why Cambodia.
• It’s cheap (half the price of Thailand), I stay in a 2 bedroom western style apartment, all mod cons, 24 hour security sea views $340 a month. A one bedroom bedsit in the same building is $120 a month. A meal out varies from $3.50 – about $7 for top end, beer is 50c-$1 a glass.
• Language isn’t a problem most Cambodians in the major cities speak English.
• Visas, unlike Thailand you can extend your visa indefinitely without leaving the country $250 a year.
• Internet, now is fine, i have ½ a mega bite which is $60 a month and a 3g card for back up should either the internet go down while playing or a power occurs. Power cuts do happen infrequently but all that’s needed is a back up battery or a laptop.
• It’s safe, like any major city anywhere in the world there is crime, just don’t wonder down dark streets at 4am you wouldn’t in New York!
• The people are lovely, not yet obliterated by western values or capitalism.
• The expat community is varied and very friendly to new comers.
• The currency is the Riel but the dollar is more widely used
• No tax
• Live poker is available in casinos and a few low homegames
• The weather is hot from October to June, June to September is the wet season which while still hot it rains to varying degrees.
I think Pro maybe a little strong, I play 3 hours a day mainly in the morning (+7 GMT) and last month 90 hours made me $900, mainly I play SnG. $900 is hefty amount here, waitress earn around $100 a month and western bar managers around $400 a month. In the UK i would have to earn $3000 a month and have a fraction of the life style. I normally finish with poker by 10am and this leaves me the rest of the day to visit the beach, take a boat ride to Island, ride my bike, watch movies, study poker, or just visit friends for a beer.
I have yet to find anyone else out here who is supporting their lifestyle from internet and poker and would either like to find someone who is or encourage someone to come and join and me. I’d be happy to help anyone thinking of making the move and it would be great to have someone to speak poker with, especially if they were at a more advanced level than me
It could be ideal for someone who can make $1-2000 a month but not enough for Pro and a decent western lifestyle, or someone who has to grind silly hours to make a western style wage.
So ask me anything about me, my poker or living in Cambodia
Iao
This guy lives in Phnom Penh, streams since long time ago, plays on GG and ACR, maybe other sites as well.
https://gyazo.com/c3b544c4d755072cd04d11...
Edit:
Looks like on stars as well, since he has results graph posted for stars
Edit:
Asked him on stream, he said he would be back on PS very soon
This guy lives in Phnom Penh, streams since long time ago, plays on GG and ACR, maybe other sites as well.
https://gyazo.com/c3b544c4d755072cd04d11...
Edit:
Looks like on stars as well, since he has results graph posted for stars
Edit:
Asked him on stream, he said he would be back on PS very soon
I have seen youtuber Gingepoker he lives or used to live in Thailand, he played online-poker from Thailand.
Been reading online about peoples experiences with Visas if anyone has experience with Class E Visa and wants to chime in. Most info online just recommends getting E visa on arrival. but I prefer to get it online to be on safe side. Don't want to travel 15+ hours and risk rejection, even if it's a small risk, or interrogated, etc. On the gov site it asks about supporting documents like invitation letter, investment plan, hotel booking (pdf), plane ticket in & out (pdf) etc. If I apply without submitting those will the application get rejected?
Been reading online about peoples experiences with Visas if anyone has experience with Class E Visa and wants to chime in. Most info online just recommends getting E visa on arrival. but I prefer to get it online to be on safe side. Don't want to travel 15+ hours and risk rejection, even if it's a small risk, or interrogated, etc. On the gov site it asks about supporting documents like invitation letter, investment plan, hotel booking (pdf), plane ticket in & out (pdf) etc. If I apply without s
Just get a visa on arrival, why would you get rejected?
I think your obsession with rules and regulations and your concerns might clash harshly with how things work in SEA and you might have a rough time navigating that part of the World, just chill the **** down and you'll be fine.
Just get a visa on arrival, why would you get rejected?
I think your obsession with rules and regulations and your concerns might clash harshly with how things work in SEA and you might have a rough time navigating that part of the World, just chill the **** down and you'll be fine.
Yeah, this is what I was thinking. Like damn, this guy if stressing about every little thing, SEA is not the place for him. But then on the other hand maybe it will be good for him to come here and he'll learn mai pen rai so didn't want to discourage him.
Syl,
I used to micro manage all of my travel beforehand and found the research enjoyable so I can relate. It's nice to have a lot of knowledge before you touch down in a new place but things change when you get on the ground but as long as you don't have drugs on you, are not a pedo or don't get into a confrontation with a local you're not going to run into any big issues. It's pretty much the beauty of the place. As long as you don't **** with anyone, no one is going to hassle you.
Plenty of people play online poker here for decades. There are a ton of people that have stayed here for years with no long term visa, it's doable. Worst case scenario, you buy $100 airplane ticket to a neighboring country to sort out how to return to your country of choice. It's kind of part of the fun. Keep doing your research but everything will work out when you get here. Just don't cling to the 1st bar girl you ****.
Hes gonna wife up the 1st bar girl...100%.
Came here for info... got roasted instead. You know what it's probably for the better. I needed to get roasted.
What can u expect from the PLO scene in Phnom Penh nowdays?
The 5/5 runs daily? Any 10/20+?
Its a funny dynamic where bigger game is better.
1/3 sux, nitregfest
5/5 is ok
5/10/25 is the best, all players you want to play vs are here
Sounds like a very common thing to me, the regs with not enough skill/bankroll
Sitting in the lower stakes.
How deep are people playing in general at 5/5
And 5/10/25?
The house I was living at for the last 2 years wifi IP blocked 2+2 for some reason and I was too lazy to fix it.. What did I miss..? 😃 Any update on PT? ;p
2p2 now under joint ukrainian/russian ownership
What can u expect from the PLO scene in Phnom Penh nowdays?
The 5/5 runs daily? Any 10/20+?
PokerKing (aka RiverKing) is running PLO everyday, starts early around 12-2pm. Both 5/5 and 10/20 (I guess that turned into 5/10/25 now).
Whenever I peeked, it looked very juicy/splashy, let's gamble vibes.
Naga rarely has PLO.
Its a funny dynamic where bigger game is better.
1/3 sux, nitregfest
5/5 is ok
5/10/25 is the best, all players you want to play vs are here
We are starting a 1/3 PLO with 5 bringin from the 9th at Mingmen, should have a couple of Cambodian businessmen and the occasional Chinese boss that doesn't know how to play. Other then that have 1/3, 2/5 NL daily.
5/10 is pretty big for PLO right. Do casinos offer transfer to bank account so that you don't have to walk around with thousands in cash?
PokerKing (aka RiverKing) is running PLO everyday, starts early around 12-2pm. Both 5/5 and 10/20 (I guess that turned into 5/10/25 now).
Whenever I peeked, it looked very juicy/splashy, let's gamble vibes.
Naga rarely has PLO.
What is the average stack sizes in the 5/10/25?
Doing any double board bomb pots ebery dealer change?
Surprised no one has commented much on this!
Here are some monthly poker updates from Sihanouk and Phnom Penh:
Naga PP:
WPT went really well at Naga, the smaller cash games were better than normal during a series. Now mostly 6-8 tables of 2/5 and 1/3 Holdem, the 5/10 has been a bit weaker of late.
Ming Men PP:
We are running a deep stack 2/5 Holdem and a 1/3 (5 bring in) PLO. We actually have run a 5 card PLO a few times in the last few weeks with some of the bosses. The 2/5 holdem has been really good, the 10/25 holdem has run a bit sporadically as with the PLO. (The 2/5 Holdem also does an option double board PLO bomb pot every 30 minutes)
Won Sihanouk:
Won introduced a new tournament series to Sihanouk with a 1,100 buyin and 500k gtd for the main. They ended up overlaying like 96k, and I heard good things about the big cash games and they adopted reasonable rake structures for the duration of the event.
JB Sihanouk:
They have been running 1/1 and 2/5 ~3 tables at JB 1 and a 5/5 game at JB 2.
Many games in the city now .
Nanhai
1/3 2/5 5/10 NLH
Blue Bay
1/3. NLH
7Deuce
1/1 NLH. 24/7
1/1 PLO. 10pm daily
1/2 NLH
6 Tables every day
What is % rake at 7Deuce? I only see the $5 cap they say is lowest in Cambodia.
