Vietnam Moves Closer to Allowing Locals in Casinos, Debates New Conditions

According to Vietnamese media outlet Laodong.vn, the country’s Ministry of Finance is considering allowing citizens who meet unspecified financial conditions to play in casinos. However, the Ministry did not comment on the matter.

Vietnam Considers Opening Casino Access to Locals 

The outlet cited a draft resolution from the ministry, according to which select citizens could play in casinos in Van Don and Ho Tram on a pilot basis for a period of five years from the date of operation. Van Don, a Sun Group project located in Quang Ninh Province, is currently under development. The first phase of the VND 51.6 trillion (approximately $2 billion) resort is scheduled to open in 2027, with full completion anticipated by mid-2032. According to reports, the casino will feature 214 casino tables and 2,140 slot machines.

It is one of the nine casinos in Vietnam, all of which are open only to foreign tourists. Gambling in Vietnam is heavily regulated and has been illegal for centuries. However, if the newest considerations turn into actual law, this would be another step in the Vietnamese government’s attempts to loosen restrictions for its citizens. 

Another big step in that direction came last month as Vietnam was considering allowing native players to enter casinos after paying a special fee.

There Have Been Successful Pilot Programs In the Past

In the recent past, Vietnam has played with the idea of allowing locals into casinos and has tested it with several pilot programs. For example, in 2016, the Politburo approved a three-year pilot program permitting Vietnamese citizens to gamble at two casinos: Corona in Kien Giang Province and Van Don, which was still in development at the time.

To gain entry, locals were required to show proof of a monthly income over VND 10 million (about $38) and pay a VND 1 million ($3.80) fee for a 24-hour pass. However, the program was soon disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the government later extended the trial through 2024, it yielded underwhelming results and was suspended in January. 

Tim Nguyen, director of Fortuna Investments, an investment holding company active in the Asia-Pacific region in the gaming, entertainment, and casino sectors, has said that the revival of the Van Don project and the extension of the locals-entry pilot program indicate a significant step toward a more commercially viable gaming industry in Vietnam.