Vietnamese players boost casinos

As Vietnamese residents are banned from local casinos, they set their bets outside the country.

Vietnam.- Casino participation in Vietnam is illegal for resident players, but the interest in the gambling industry is not determined by the prohibition. Vietnamese players are betting hundreds of millions of dollars in overseas casinos, especially in Hong Kong, Cambodia and Singapore.

This year, the Vietnamese press suggested that the national government could be killing the complete legalisation of gambling for residents. However, in July the Ministry of Finance rejected the negotiations by declaring that locals should not be allowed to enter Vietnam’s casinos. Only foreigners and Vietnamese with foreign passports and legal entry to Vietnam can go to casinos located on the national territory.

Operating casinos in Vietnam is not easy, as well. The project in Ba Ria – Vung Tau – The Grand Ho Tram Strip is the only operational casino which has received clients for the last three years. Investors interested in the Vietnamese casino industry must have US$4 billion at least in investment capital to develop projects, which must include also service, tourism, and entertainment areas.