Vietnam proposes tougher gambling rules
Draft decrees would update enforcement rules across lotteries, betting, casinos and prize-winning electronic games.
Key takeaways:
- Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has drafted new decrees intended to update regulations covering lotteries, betting, casinos and prize-winning electronic games in light of recent changes to national legislation.
- The proposed maximum fine would be VND200m (US$7,700) for organisations and VND100m (US$3,850) for individuals.
- Enforcement powers would be distributed among specialised state agencies, provincial and commune-level People’s Committee chairpersons, and the People’s Police.
Vietnam.- The Ministry of Finance has proposed new government decrees to revise administrative enforcement across the lottery, betting, casino and prize-winning electronic game sectors in Vietnam. The draft measures seek to bring sector-specific rules into line with recent changes to national legislation, including laws covering anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism and administrative violations.
The reforms would incorporate recent enactments, including the Law on Anti-Money Laundering, the Law on Counter-Terrorism, the amended Law on Handling of Administrative Violations, and the Law on Inspection. Under the proposed rules, the maximum financial penalty for organisations violating regulations across the lottery, betting, casino, and electronic prize game industries would be set at VND200m (US$7,700). Individual violators would face fines equal to half of the amount applied to organisations for the same offence, placing the maximum individual fine at VND100m (US$3,850).
Beyond monetary fines, regulatory authorities would have the power to apply supplementary measures against non-compliant entities.
The draft decree for the lottery sector spans 4 chapters and 32 articles, with 19 dedicated to defining administrative violations, penalty structures, and remedial actions. For the broader gambling sectors, the proposals outline 17 groups of violations in betting, 15 groups in casinos, 15 groups in prize-winning electronic games, and 4 groups specifically tied to money laundering and counter-terrorism financing.
Enforcement authority and the power to file violation reports or issue penalties would be divided among state agencies, the Chairpersons of the People’s Committees at both provincial and commune levels and the People’s Police force
