Vietnam Puts Former Officials on Trial in $107M Gambling Scandal

The Hanoi People’s Court has commenced one of the most significant illegal gambling cases in Vietnam over the past few years, drawing national attention for its scope, its participants, and the staggering sums involved. One hundred and forty-one defendants stand accused of organizing and participating in an underground gambling ring worth nearly VND 2.6 trillion ($98 million), centered at the King Club in Hanoi’s Pullman Hotel.

The Illegal Operation Boasted Unprecedented Scale

Some of the most high-profile defendants in this case include Ho Dai Dung, former vice chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee, and Ngo Ngoc Duc, former party secretary of Hoa Binh City. The trial is expected to last about two weeks under the supervision of Judge Luu Ngoc Canh. A guilty sentence for similar crimes can result in over ten years in prison.

The case began in 2024 when investigators from the Ministry of Public Security raided the King Club and arrested 14 individuals for gambling and organizing games of chance. Authorities confiscated nearly 13 billion dong ($495,000), along with various foreign currencies. However, what initially seemed like a discreet gambling operation gradually unraveled into a complex network involving former officials, business figures, and celebrities from across the country.

According to court documents, the King Club had a legal license to run a foreigner-only gambling facility. However, its management was subcontracted to HS Development Vietnam Company, run by a South Korean national, Kim In Sung. Investigators claim that Kim and his collaborators took advantage of loopholes in Vietnam’s licensing system to allow domestic players, thus transforming the facility into a high-stakes casino for the Vietnamese elite.

Patrons Routinely Wagered Exorbitant Sums

The indictment paints a vivid picture of extravagance and excess. Former vice-chairman Ho Dai Dung, known as “Mr. Michael,” reportedly played 95 times from February to June 2024, losing over $7 million in the process. Records show he usually wagered between $4,900 and $331,000, at one time losing over $759,000. On the other hand, Ngo Ngoc Duc, known by the alias “Mr. Lucky One,” allegedly wagered $4.2 million across 74 visits, losing around $284,000.

Prosecutors note that Kim In Sung, who they believe ran the entire operation, allegedly earned $9.2 million from illegal activities. Only five individuals out of the 141 defendants stand accused of organizing the gambling. Three of them are South Koreans. The court will spend the following weeks carefully examining the evidence to determine individual culpability and sentencing.

While Vietnam remains the jurisdiction with the strictest gambling laws in Asia, the government has cautiously started to relax its grip. Pilot programs currently allow wealthy locals to gamble in certain casinos, albeit with significant restrictions. However, this newest case indicates that illegal gambling will not be tolerated.