Gambling, in general, is illegal in Vietnam, so there are not many casinos or gambling facilities in Vietnam. Fortunately, if you want to have fun testing your luck at casinos, you can still do so as the country is gradually opening to more foreign investments and the gambling rules are more relaxed. See below for information on how to gamble legally in Vietnam and avoid scams while at the casino.
The Legality of Gambling Regulations in Vietnam
Who Can Gamble in Vietnam
- Foreigner with a non-Vietnamese passport
- Vietnamese at least 21 years of age with monthly incomes of more than VND 10 million/month (approx. USD 450) and no criminal record. Sometimes, locals must have permission or agreement with their families to enter casinos. They must also pay an entry tax of VND 1 million before entering a casino.
Read more about Legal Age in Vietnam
Legal Gambling Activities
- Sports betting (international football games, horse races, and greyhound races)
- Casinos in casino hotels in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh, Ho Tram, Van Don, Phu Quoc Islands, etc.)
- Lottery
These activities are strictly regulated and monitored by the Government, and the details are specified in Decree No. 06/2017/ND-CP.
Gambling Regulations in Vietnam
The sentences for illegal activities are stated in the Law dated June 20, 2017, on Amendments to the Criminal Code 2015 in Article 321 and Article 322.
Gambling operators can be fined from VND 20 million to VND 100 million or get a part or all of their assets confiscated. According to the gambling regulations in Vietnam, the offenders who violate one of the following cases shall be sentenced from five to ten years of imprisonment:
a. Being a professional scam artist;
b. Illegally gaining VND 50,000,000 or more;
c. Using the internet, computer networks, telecommunication networks, or electronic means to commit cheat crimes;
d. Repeated offense
Besides, gamblers caught gambling in any illegal form, winning or losing any amount under VND 50 million, will be fined from VND 10 million to VND 50 million. If caught offending these criminal behaviors again, the fine can get up to VND 100 million, or you can receive a non-custodial sentence of 6 months to 3 years. These sentences can get much stricter for the crimes of serious offenses.
Online Gambling is Prohibited in Vietnam
Even though some online articles might say that there are legitimate online betting or gambling websites in Vietnam, the truth is that there is no official document stating the legitimacy of online gambling in Vietnam. While you can indeed use your VPN to avoid being caught gambling online, there is no law or regulation that can protect you from scams or hackers on these online platforms.
Summary of Gambling Regulations in Vietnam
Gambling regulation in Vietnam is still a controversial issue. Despite strict gambling regulations in Vietnam, locals still gamble and bet in various forms. The Government considers gambling addiction as a social illness that can lead to the risk of negative consequences, such as insecurity and loss of social order and morality.
Many people think that Vietnam should relax more gambling regulations and manage it better to gain more benefits from taxes, tourism attractions, etc.
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