Vietnam’s gaming regulatory system is underdeveloped and struggling to balance commercial needs with state control, Luís Mesquita de Melo, General Counsel at Hoiana Integrated Resort, has told a panel discussion, as reported by Asia Gaming Brief.
“The current regulatory system in Vietnam is still very unsophisticated and immature,” he said.
The article also notes:
- Key legal gaps: Mesquita de Melo highlighted the lack of follow-up legislation to the 2017 gaming decree, leaving areas like junket operations and credit issuance unregulated. This creates compliance risks, especially for foreigners-only casinos that rely on bringing in international players, he said.
- Junkets in legal limbo: While junkets are labelled as “international tour operators” in Vietnam, Mesquita de Melo noted that they function the same as in Macau but exist in a regulatory vacuum.
- Civil law obstacles: Vietnam’s civil law framework means rules aren’t truly in effect until backed by administrative decisions and this makes it difficult to plan. “You never really know how the law is going to be interpreted,” he said.
- Regulation brings stability: Contrary to the belief that less regulation benefits business, Mesquita de Melo argued that clarity and detailed rules are better for operators, helping reduce risk and support compliance.
- No gaming regulator: Mesquita de Melo stressed that the absence of a dedicated gaming authority means operators must navigate approvals from multiple ministries, slowing decisions and complicating legal certainty.
All of that is to say that Mesquita de Melo believes that without clearer rules and a central regulator, Vietnam’s gaming industry remains structurally uncertain, exposing investors to avoidable risks.
See also: Gambling in Vietnam: Industry Overview