According to the second draft of the new decree on casino operations, currently open for public consultation, the Ministry of Finance recommends continuing the pilot program that allows Vietnamese citizens to access casino gaming venues under certain conditions.

Under this proposal, Vietnamese citizens may enter casinos if they meet all the following criteria:

They must be at least 21 years old and have full civil capacity in accordance with Vietnamese law.

They are required to purchase an entry ticket to play at the casino. The fee is set at 2.5 million VND ($100) for each 24-hour continuous period or 50 million VND ($2,000) for a monthly pass.

They must not be subject to a written request by family members (such as parents, spouses, or children with full legal capacity) or themselves requesting that they not be allowed to gamble at casinos.

Vietnamese citizens allowed to enter casinos may only use Vietnamese dong to exchange for casino chips or equivalent tokens and can convert any remaining chips or winnings back into Vietnamese dong.

According to the explanatory report accompanying the draft, the drafting body stated that the current regulations governing Vietnamese citizens' entry into casinos have largely been effective in managing and controlling access, with no major legal complications arising.

However, issues remain around verifying players' financial capacity. Requiring multiple documents for financial proof has created difficulties for both players and casino operators during the appraisal and verification process. Many individuals who have sufficient financial means find it challenging to prove so when traveling, as required documentation must be prepared well in advance.

This practical barrier has limited access for legitimate players, even as gambling abroad involves far simpler procedures.

To address this, the Ministry of Finance has worked with other ministries and agencies to report to the Government and the Politburo, recommending that the existing eligibility conditions under Decree No. 03/2017/ND-CP be retained.

However, for the financial capacity requirement, in line with international trends and practical considerations, and to reduce foreign currency outflow due to administrative burdens, the ministry proposes raising the entry ticket price as a proxy for financial eligibility.

Specifically, the suggested ticket price of 2.5 million VND ($100) per 24-hour period is 2.5 times higher than the current rate, while the 50 million VND ($2,000) monthly ticket is double the existing amount.

The Politburo has approved the policy in principle and authorized the Government to finalize the legal framework. The Ministry of Finance is now submitting the updated draft decree for governmental review and approval.

In addition, the draft decree stipulates that in order to obtain an investment registration certificate for a casino project, the minimum investment capital required is $2 billion.

Casino operators are also required to install a 24/7 camera surveillance system. This must cover key areas such as all entry and exit points, gaming machine and table areas, cashier sections, cash and chip storage rooms, and zones housing unused or under-maintenance gaming equipment.

Video footage captured by electronic devices and the camera system in these key areas must be clear, continuous, and stored for at least 180 days from the date of recording.

Nguyen Le