Vietnam proposes casino entry fee for locals
The Ministry of Finance recommends continuing the pilot programme that allows Vietnamese citizens to access casino gaming venues under certain conditions.
Vietnam.-The Ministry of Finance has proposed replacing the income verification requirement for locals entering casinos with a flat-rate entry fee. The measure is part of a draft decree on casino operations and is currently open for public consultation.
As reported by The VietNamNet, Vietnamese citizens would be required to pay VND2.5m (US$100) for each 24-hour period of casino access or VND50m (US$2,000) per month. The suggested daily cost is 2.5 times higher than the current rate.
This proposal is intended to address the practical difficulties of providing and verifying proof of income, a requirement that has been in place since the launch of the country’s local gambling pilot programe at a single casino.
Under the new proposal, key restrictions from the pilot would remain in effect. Vietnamese citizens must be at least 21 years old and not be on a self-imposed or family-initiated exclusion list to be eligible for entry. Casino operators would also be required to install 24/7 camera surveillance systems covering all key areas, with footage stored for a minimum of 180 days. Separately, the draft decree retains the US$2bn minimum capital requirement for casino project approvals.
Last month, deputy prime minister Le Thanh Long instructed the Ministry of Finance to study development policies for Phu Quoc island, including the possibility of allowing Vietnamese nationals to continue accessing casinos beyond the current pilot phase.
The Ministry of Finance will study two proposals: formulating and enacting policies for the development of Phu Quoc, and extending the right for Vietnamese citizens to gamble at casinos located after Vietnam’s only pilot of casino gaming for locals concludes.
