by Lan Dung
HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Enterprises with electronic gambling machines will be fined between VND180-200 million (US$8,500-9,500) if they allow Vietnamese people to participate in gambling, according to Decree No. 86/2013/ND-CP.
Foreigners and Vietnamese who settle abroad and own valid passports of any country, with legal entries into Viet Nam will be permitted to play.
Licences will only be provided to hotels rated more than five stars by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Hotels will be required to meet strict requirements under the law.
Businesses will be responsible for providing camera surveillance and electronic gambling machines must be placed in an area separate from other services.
Enterprises that have made losses in previous financial years will be prohibited from obtaining a valid gambling licence.
The number of gambling machines provided will be based on the number of rooms at the hotel and will be printed on their certificate of eligibility. Hotels that exceed their quota of machines will be fined between VND150-180 million ($7,000-8,500).
Enterprises providing uncertified gambling machines will be fined VND130-150 million ($6,000-7,000), whilst businesses without proper certification will be fined VND90-100 ($4,200-4,700).
The law is intended to cater to foreigners who would like to gamble in Viet Nam but strictly ignores demands from native Vietnamese who would also like to participate.
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| Jackpot and slot machines of Palazzo Club at the Sheraton Hotel in HCM City. Vietnamese people are not allowed to play electronic gambling machines, according to newly issued decree. Photo cafebiz.vn |
Lawyer Nguyen Viet Xuan from An Phu Law Company told Biz Hub that Vietnamese people often visited Cambodia and other countries to gamble.
Many play jackpot and use slot machines because it is not illegal, so they go to avoid breaking the law, said Xuan.
He said it showed a strong demand for gambling in Viet Nam.
"However, I think that forbidding Vietnamese people to play gambling under any condition is necessary given our customs and the socio-economic conditions."
The decree on electronic gambling for foreigners was signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on July 29 and will come into effect on October 1.
Businesses operating with licences issued under previous laws will be required to apply for a new licence.
According to the Ministry of Finance, there are 43 hotels and tourism agencies offering electronic gambling machines in Viet Nam, most in Ha Noi and HCM City.
In the event the Government chose to legalise gambling, it needed to establish the mechanisms to manage it well, Xuan said.
"The Government should take strict measures: Firstly, it needs to regulate enterprises who offer gambling services. Secondly, individuals who choose to gamble should have the finances to do so and have this verified legally. Individuals should only be allowed to play within their means and only in regulated areas. Thirdly, a lottery model should be adopted to ensure all profits are transferred to the government to be invested back into society," Xuan said.
According to police estimations, up to 100-120 Vietnamese people cross the Moc Bai border (Tay Ninh Province) each day to gamble in Cambodia. On the weekend, this number can reach up to 500-600 people.
The Government's stance on Vietnamese gambling is unlikely to change in the near future. — VNS