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| A casino in Phu Quoc special zone in An Giang province piloting Vietnamese entry__Photo: vnbusiness.vn |
The Ministry of Finance has proposed allowing Vietnamese citizens to enter casinos, provided they purchase an entry ticket priced at roughly 2–2.5 times the current rate.
Under the draft decree on casino business currently open for public feedback, the ministry suggests ticket prices of VND 2.5 million (USD 95.32) per day or VND 50 million (USD 1,906) per month for Vietnamese players.
To be eligible for entry, Vietnamese nationals must be at least 21 years old, possess full legal capacity and comply with other casino regulations. They may only use Vietnamese đồng to exchange for casino chips, which must be reconverted into đồng if unused.
Players must also bear full legal responsibility for all documents presented to casino operators upon entry.
Licensed casinos taking part in the pilot program are required to verify, review and keep player records for a minimum of five years. They must also separately account for ticket revenue, report the number of Vietnamese entrants and deposit ticket sales into their State Treasury accounts.
According to the ministry, existing regulations have generally proven effective in managing and monitoring Vietnamese casino entry. However, current requirements for proving financial eligibility involve cumbersome paperwork, creating difficulties for both players and casino operators.
This, it argued, discourages legitimate domestic players, who often choose to gamble abroad where procedures are simpler.
For this reason, the ministry views higher ticket prices to assess financial ability while simplifying entry procedures.
Vietnam currently has nine operational casino projects, including six small-scale and three large. The first casino to allow Vietnamese visitors was Corona Phu Quoc, developed by Phu Quoc Tourism Investment and Development JSC. Located within a $2 billion resort complex, the casino houses 1,470 gaming machines and 147 tables. The Phu Quoc casino’s pilot program runs until the end of 2024.
Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long instructed the Ministry of Finance to study policy proposals for further developing the Phu Quoc special zone, including post-pilot provisions on Vietnamese casino access.
Casino operation is a conditional business sector in Vietnam. Under the draft decree, investment projects seeking a casino license must be part of an integrated resort complex combining tourism, services and entertainment with a minimum capital of USD 2 billion.
Casino operators must install around-the-clock surveillance cameras throughout all functional areas, including entrances, gaming floors, vaults, cashiers and money-handling zones, and retain footage for at least 180 days, ready to supply to authorities when required.
Additionally, all players, both Vietnamese and foreigners, will be issued electronic ID cards containing personal details, access permissions and expiry dates. These cards are intended to control entry, record visitor numbers and ensure the transparency of casino operations.- (VNS/VLLF)
