The Gaming category covers video games, esports, game development, and industry trends. It explores market growth, investment in gaming studios, emerging technologies, and consumer engagement, providing insights into gaming regulations, hardware advancements, and monetization strategies.

New dog racing track approved for south-central Vietnam

the-shiv February 22, 2025

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh has signed off on a dog racing track project in Vietnam’s Lam Dong province. A licence to operate a bookmaking service, however, has not been approved with developers advised to apply when the track is complete, VietnamNet is reporting.

Gambling in Vietnam: Industry Overview 2025

the-shiv February 21, 2025

Gambling in Vietnam is illegal but that doesn’t stop a sizable amount of betting occurring. This tends to peak around major sporting events. Recognising that this might be a problem, or perhaps that Vietnam is missing out on millions of dollars worth of tax revenue, there have been recent moves to try to legalise the practice. In this light, this cheat sheet runs through how gambling works in Vietnam, who can gamble, and the key regulations governing gambling that is already permitted…

Vietnam gamers restricted from buying, selling virtual assets under new internet Decree

the-shiv November 15, 2024

There are also a number of other requirements for gaming providers outlined in the Decree from signage requirements in gaming centres to warnings placed in-game. For example, “Playing more than 180 minutes a day will have a negative impact on health” is required to be displayed in-game every thirty minutes….

Gaming venues slated for more surprise inspections in southern Vietnam province

the-shiv October 26, 2024

Of note, gambling in Vietnam is illegal but that doesn’t stop a sizable amount of betting occurring. Recognising that this might be a problem, or perhaps that Vietnam is missing out on millions of dollars worth of tax revenue, there have been recent moves to try to legalise the practice…

Australia’s Timezone video game arcade chain opens 13th Vietnam location

the-shiv September 28, 2024

Video games are played widely around Vietnam. There are cyber cafes in the big cities on just about every corner. These are generally long rooms chock full of computers and almost always filled with young Vietnamese playing a broad range of video games. With this in mind, Vietnam’s consumers are well primed for more classic video game experiences like video game arcades.

Gambling ad sports broadcast embeds headache for Vietnam pay-TV providers

the-shiv August 29, 2024

This comes after Pay-TV providers were warned earlier this year that showing gambling ads on television was prohibited. The association has instead recommended that the Ministry of Information and Communication focus on cracking down on, and blocking, illegal gambling website sites.

Extension proposed for casino pilot program allowing Vietnamese bettors

the-shiv August 26, 2024

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.

Supply of slot machines in Vietnam close to outstripping demand: Gaming exec

the-shiv July 4, 2024

As a result, the gaming executive says that border closures and the subsequent reduction in tourists visiting Vietnam saw the market become oversaturated as the number of players fell significantly. He says the market has still not fully recovered and that many gaming clubs that took a financial hit during the pandemic are in need of further investment to get moving again…

Illegal Vietnam gambling sites sponsoring sports teams in Europe

the-shiv June 15, 2024

Gambling in Vietnam is illegal but is still rampant. There have been some attempts to legalise the practice, particularly sports betting, with guidelines for a pilot program legislated back in 2017, but no business has as yet taken up the opportunity. This is in large part due to very restrictive regulations that limit the size of a bet to VND 1 million or about US$42 and to just a handful of sports. A minimum capital contribution of VND 1 trillion or US$42 million is also required…

Video game platform Steam confirmed blocked in Vietnam

the-shiv June 2, 2024

There has been some speculation over the last few weeks that blocking Steam in Vietnam may have been blocked at the request of local game developers to protect the local industry. Whereas these comments from Le do not necessarily rule that out, he does claim that attempts were made to contact the company but received no response–ergo, this might just be a shot across the bow to get Steam’s attention.

Apple deleted 5,000+ Vietnam apps mostly for fraud, one at gov’t request

the-shiv May 23, 2024

Just one app was also removed in 2023 for beaching Vietnam’s Cybersecurity Law. This law requires cross border service providers like streaming sites and online video game distributors to open local offices and store data locally. That said, with just one takedown request for the whole of last year (for comparison in China it was 1,285) enforcing this law in Vietnam looks to be shaping up as…

Vietnam tech-giant’s losses quadruple after audit

the-shiv May 16, 2024

VNG’s Zalo currently has about 72.5 million user accounts and its success has put VNG in the government’s good graces. This may speak to reports last week that the Steam gaming platform had been banned in Vietnam at the request of local game producers.

World Poker Tour event in Vietnam scrapped on permitting failure

the-shiv May 14, 2024

A World Poker Tour event scheduled to be held in Hanoi has been cancelled amid reports organisers failed to acquire the necessary permits. Local media outlet, Dan Tri has said the Hanoi Department of Culture and Information and the police have been asked to review the event including if the

Video Games in Vietnam: Industry Overview 2025

the-shiv March 16, 2024

Video games in Vietnam are very popular to both play and produce. In fact, one of Vietnam’s biggest companies, VNG, draws most of its revenue from Vietnam’s video game sector. Furthermore, as internet and smartphone penetration continue to grow mobile games in particular continue to pull in millions of dollars in revenue. With this in mind, this article covers key regulations, rules, and realities with respect to producing and distributing video games in Vietnam.

Provisions added to Vietnam’s Law on Bidding for sports betting operations

the-shiv March 3, 2024

From February 27 of this year, firms looking to take bets on international soccer in Vietnam will need to go through a bidding process, VN Express is reporting. Note that there are currently no legal sports betting businesses in Vietnam, however, there are provisions in several laws referring to the

Vietnam lottery revenue hits highest point ever

the-shiv January 15, 2024

Vietnamese lottery firms recorded revenue of US$1.87 billion in 2023 up from US$1.4 billion in 2022, Zing News is reporting. There is no analysis provided, however, this is not necessarily a good thing. It is common for spikes in lottery ticket sales to coincide with periods of economic uncertainty as

Hanoi considering building US$420 million horse racetrack

the-shiv January 11, 2024

The People’s Committee of Soc Son district on the outskirts of Hanoi (near the airport) is asking for opinions with respect to building a racetrack and entertainment complex in the area, Nha Dau Tu (the Vietnamese language version of The Investor) is reporting. The project would cover 125 hectares and

Northern Vietnam province looking for approval for casino project

the-shiv November 24, 2023

Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province, home to world famous tourist attraction Ha Long Bay, wants to build a US$2.8 billion casino and resort for domestic tourists. Plans have been submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Investment which has asked the Prime Minister to approve the project ‘in-principal’, The Investor is

Is it ‘time for an upgrade’ of legalised gambling regulations in Vietnam?

the-shiv November 17, 2023

C-level executives at Spectrum Gaming Group, a consultancy specialising in legalised gambling have called for Vietnam to formalise its gaming sector by consolidating legislation and appointing a single regulator, according to an op-ed published in Inside Asian Gaming. They say that the legislation in the sector is currently scattered with