Vietnam is planning to change its rules for local citizens who want to gamble in casinos. The goal is to make it simpler to enter the venues while still keeping strict controls.
The government’s Ministry of Finance is reviewing the old rules (Decree 03/2017) and thinking about replacing them with a new framework.
Goodbye to Income Paperwork
The biggest change being considered is getting rid of the complicated process of proving how much money a person earns.
The Problem: Under the old system, Vietnamese citizens had to show many documents, like tax returns or bank statements, to prove they had a minimum monthly income (around VND 10 million, or about $400 USD).
This process was seen as slow and difficult for both the players and the casinos. The Ministry of Finance noted in its report that “Many cannot provide the required documents as they must be thoroughly prepared in advance,” making the process “cumbersome.”
The Solution: The new plan is to replace the paperwork with a simple entry fee. This fee would act as a financial check to ensure only people with enough money are gambling.
Proposed fee: VND 2.5 million (about $100 USD) for a 24-hour pass, or VND 50 million (about $2,000 USD) for a monthly pass. This higher fee model is similar to the system used in Singapore.
Who Can Still Enter?
The main requirements for Vietnamese citizens to enter a casino would mostly stay the same:
Age: Must be at least 21 years old.
Legal: Must have full legal capacity.
No Bans: Must not be on a self-exclusion list or a list requested by family members.
Local Access Expansion: The change comes after the government recently decided to make the Corona Resort & Casino in Phu Quoc Island a permanent venue for local players, moving it past its trial period. The Grand Ho Tram resort has also been approved for a new five-year pilot program for locals.
Experts, like economist Dinh Xuan Thao, support easing the rules. Thao said that the current restrictions “only encourages locals to travel abroad for gambling,” adding that “Expanding access would allow for better oversight.”
This proposed change shows that Vietnam is trying to find a balance: generating more tax money and keeping gambling under control, while making it easier for local citizens with money to play legally within the country.
