Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed extending a pilot program at a Phu Quoc casino that allows Vietnamese to gamble, VN Express is reporting. The Ministry has also proposed a similar three-year pilot for a new casino planned for Van Don in Quang Ninh, though it’s not clear when this new casino may be operational.
In general, gambling is illegal for Vietnamese in Vietnam with casinos only open to foreigners. That said, during the COVID-19 pandemic these rules were relaxed at the Corona Casino in Phu Quoc. Local residents were permitted to gamble at the establishment as part of a pilot program that was to run for three years, however, is now likely to be extended to the end of 2024.
Of note, foreign firms can open casinos in Vietnam with no foreign ownership limits. However, they must apply for a license. Licenses are granted based on the size of the casino and the number of machines and tables relative to foreign capital contributions. Specifically, for every US$10 million of capital contributed to a casino project in Vietnam, the casino can have just one gaming table and 10 electronic poker machines.
See also: Gambling in Vietnam: Foreign Investor Quick Read 2024