Casinos in Viet Nam

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Even though gambling is generally illegal in Vietnam, the country does have land-based casinos. Due to the complexity of local regulations, their number is small compared to other parts of Southeast Asia and they are chiefly located within luxurious 4 and 5-star hotels in popular tourist destinations.

One of the world’s rapidly growing economies, Vietnam is emerging as a big player in the tourist industry on a global scale. There is nothing surprising in the keen interest of foreign visitors, given the land’s unique blend of rich culture, ancient traditions, and state-of-the-art entertainment – all that at affordable prices.

Casino Industry as Chance for Economy Growth

If not for tourism, which plays an important role in the country’s economy, the government would never have approved a legal casino. But well aware of the fact that slot machines and classic table games are universally popular, the authorities have allowed them to make them part of the offering. The decision was made quite bashfully, with certain reservations, and, of course, Vegas-style fun was first restricted to foreign citizens only.

The country borders Cambodia and Laos to the west and China to the north but the geography of tourists goes far beyond Vietnam’s neighbors. People from Europe, the United States, and Australia flocked there to enjoy the clear turquoise waters of the East Sea and amazing beaches that span for over 2,000 miles. However, the largest source market of Vietnam tourism is South Korea, which is responsible for more than a quarter of all visitors.

If you are plotting to jump on the plane and head to this exotic place not just to explore its natural assets but also to gamble, keep in mind that casinos there are pretty small compared to what you may find, for instance, in Macau or Singapore, not to mention iconic venues on the Strip.

The reason for it is quite prosaic, boiling down to money. Namely, according to the current requirements for obtaining a license, the number of slot machines and gaming tables that a casino may have is tied to the contribution of foreign capital invested in the project. Investors need to shell out $10 million to have one table and 10 sleek cabinets on their floors.

History of Gambling in Vietnam

Similar to other Asian countries, Vietnam has a long gambling history. Since early times, such betting activities as cock fighting and fish fighting have been very popular among communities. The latter, by the way, is still one of the most favorite pastimes for locals who often bet large amounts of money while the fights attract huge crowds of spectators.

Vietnamese also have an old gambling game, which is similar to roulette but uses animal figures (or pictures nowadays) instead of numbers while the outcome is determined by three dice instead of the wheel. Named Bau Cua or ba'u cua cá cop (gourd-crab-fish-tiger), it is a mandatory amusement during Tet, Vietnamese New Year. However, it is equally popular all year round and can be played as a board game as well.

Huahui is another widespread betting activity that has been part of Vietnamese culture for more than two centuries. In contrast to Bau Cua, it did not originate in Vietnam but was brought into the country by Chinese migrants in the early 1800s. A lottery-style game, Huahui has gone through some changes to develop in De 36 Con or 36 Animals, which as its name suggests, used 36 mythological Chinese figures.

When in 1950, De 36 Con was prohibited by Bao Dai's administration, gaming houses quickly found a way to circumvent the ban. They modified the game and introduced the new version – 40 Animals. Interestingly, during the 19th century, De 36 Con even managed to reach the Americas and the Caribbean.

One more interesting fact is that the modern official state lottery of Jamaica called Cash Pot is nothing but a modified version of that game. Naturally, it uses characters unique to the beautiful island country but the concept remains the same.

Gambling Legislation

Vietnam belongs to a group of countries with no dedicated gambling laws. The main document used to regulate the country’s casino industry is Government Decree 03/2017/ND-CP, which came into force in March 2017. The preamble of the Decree specifies that all operations must be conducted in compliance with different associated laws and numerous circulars and decrees, including future amendments and changes.

Although the gaming sector plays a very important part in the country's economic development, it has been developing with no clear plan or strong strategy, with many decisions being made on the spur of the moment. The office of the Prime Minister also actively participates in the regulation of gambling, with a special focus on the prevention of crime linked to betting activities.

Land-Based Casinos in Vietnam

The trailblazer in legal brick-and-mortar business was Do Son Casino in Hai Phong, which opened its doors to foreign visitors at the beginning of the 1990s. Inspired by its success, more operators followed the example and soon, there were ten licensed casinos and more than 20 slot machine clubs.

In 2016, under the pressure of casino owners and representatives of the sector who tried to increase the number of their customers, the government announced a three-year pilot program intended to allow locals to gamble in Vietnam. The Corona Resort and Casino in Phu Quoc was chosen to be the first to welcome local players who had to be at least 21 years old and earn a minimum of 10 million VND (US$400). More than that, they also had to pay an entry fee of 1 million VND ($40) per 24 hours.

Although the pilot program was scheduled to end in 2022, it was extended for two more years to make up for the losses caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Corona Casino, which is arguably one of the largest venues in the country, remains the main place to accept local punters. Its gaming floors are home to about 100 tables, offering baccarat, poker, roulette, blackjack, and sic bo. Plus, slot buffs can choose between 1,000 slot machines.