Vietnam Moves Toward Allowing Local Citizens to Access Casinos Under New Conditions

Vietnam Considers Allowing Locals into Casinos

The Ministry of Finance in Vietnam is reportedly reviewing possibilities to permit local citizens, who meet certain financial criteria, to gamble in casinos. Although official comments from the Ministry have not been made public, the discussion shows a potential shift in the country’s gambling policies.

Proposed Pilot Program for Locals in Van Don and Ho Tram

A draft proposal suggests that selected Vietnamese citizens might be allowed to play in casinos located in Van Don and Ho Tram on a trial basis for five years starting from when the casinos begin operations. Van Don is a significant development project by Sun Group in Quang Ninh Province, with an estimated investment of about 51.6 trillion VND (roughly 2 billion USD). The project aims to open its first phase by 2027 and complete it fully by mid-2032. The planned casino at this site will include 214 gaming tables and 2,140 slot machines.

Currently, all nine of Vietnam’s casinos only accept foreign visitors, as domestic gambling remains heavily restricted and largely illegal. This draft resolution could mark a pivotal change as the Vietnamese government explores avenues to relax these restrictions for their own citizens.

Previous Moves Toward Local Access in Casinos

This is not the first time Vietnam has experimented with allowing its residents into casinos. Back in 2016, a three-year pilot was authorized, enabling locals to gamble at two specific casinos: Corona in Kien Giang Province and the then-under-development Van Don casino. Participants had to prove a monthly income surpassing 10 million VND (about 38 USD) and pay a fee of 1 million VND (approximately 3.80 USD) to gain a 24-hour entry pass.

The pilot program was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and, despite an extension through 2024, it did not meet expectations and was eventually halted at the start of this year.

Industry Insights and Future Outlook

Tim Nguyen, director of Fortuna Investments—a company active in gaming and entertainment across the Asia-Pacific region—observes that the renewed interest in the Van Don project and potential reopening of access to local gamblers highlight Vietnam’s intention to develop a more commercially sustainable gaming industry. These steps indicate the government’s cautious but determined approach to reforming the country’s gambling laws to benefit both the economy and local consumers.