Casino directory
Kings Romans Casino (Golden Triangle SEZ, Bokeo)
By far the largest and most active casino in Laos — a 10,000-hectare Chinese-built SEZ on the Mekong, in Bokeo province, with hotels, restaurants and gaming floors that primarily serve cross-border visitors.
Kings Romans Casino sits inside the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Ton Pheung district, Bokeo province, on the Lao bank of the Mekong River where the borders of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar meet. By area it is the largest casino in Laos and the only one that operates at a scale comparable to mid-sized casinos in Macau or Manila. The zone is operated under a long-term concession by the Hong Kong-registered Kings Romans International Group, with Chinese management throughout the property.
Construction began in 2007. The casino floor itself sits in a Roman-themed central complex, surrounded by hotels, restaurants, a small shopping arcade and several entertainment venues. The wider SEZ also includes a private airstrip, residential and commercial blocks, and a riverside boardwalk facing the Mekong. By 2015 the project had received more than US$644 million in cumulative investment, and the SEZ has generated more than half of the total state remittances coming from all Lao SEZs combined.
Where it is
Ton Pheung district, Bokeo province, Lao PDR. The site is across the Mekong from the Thai border town of Sop Ruak in Chiang Saen district, Chiang Rai. Most international visitors arrive via Thailand: cross the Mekong by river ferry from Sop Ruak to the SEZ landing, where a short transfer takes you into the casino zone. There is no direct rail link and no regular flights into the private airstrip.
What is on site
- Casino floor — slot machines, baccarat, sic bo, blackjack, roulette and several VIP rooms
- Multiple hotels of varying standards (the central tower is the highest end)
- Chinese, Thai and international restaurants
- Shopping arcade with duty-free goods, jewellery and Chinese consumer brands
- Entertainment venues including a nightclub and Karaoke (KTV)
- A small zoo and themed gardens
- Mekong-facing boardwalk
Who can play
Like all Lao casinos, Kings Romans is open to foreign nationals. Lao nationals are not permitted to gamble at any Lao casino. The dominant visitor profile is Chinese, with Thai, Burmese and a smaller group of Western visitors. Currency on the gaming floor is Chinese yuan, with Lao kip and Thai baht accepted at restaurants and shops. Most chips are denominated in yuan.
Regulation and safety
Kings Romans has been the subject of several international press investigations and a 2018 US Treasury sanctions designation against the founder Zhao Wei. Visitors should be aware of the regulatory and reputational context before visiting. Lao authorities continue to license the zone; check current advisories before travelling.
How it relates to Boten
The Golden Triangle SEZ and Boten SEZ are two of Laos’s three main casino-history SEZs. Boten ran casinos from 2007 until 2011, when they were closed by mutual agreement of the Chinese and Lao authorities. Today Boten is a non-gaming destination — a transit, logistics and tourism hub anchored by the China-Laos Railway. Kings Romans, in contrast, continued operating and remains the largest active casino in the country.
→ See also: All casinos in the region · History of Boten