World Cup stirs the illegal betting pot in Vietnam

The local police broke an illegal betting ring worth around US$26 million, which was linked to events like the World Cup.

Vietnam.- While gambling is illegal in Vietnam (apart from the state-run lottery and a few casinos open to foreigners) that doesn’t stop locals from betting on sporting events. The local police broke an online football gambling ring worth around US$26 million over the weekend.

The police from Vietnam arrested four people in a move that is set to stop the black market betting that increases activity during sporting events like the World Cup. “Since early 2017, the total transactions of the gambling ring have been worth more than US$26 million,” reported state-run Vietnam Television, and added that millions of residents have used those illegal services.

Vietnam’s current stance establishes that participation or organisation of gambling in the country could lead to 10 years in jail. While the government has tried to ease restrictions in order to fight the illegal market, it is still dominant as the small amount allowed to bet is attractive to Vietnamese people.