Can Certificates of eligibility for casino business be transferred in Vietnam?

1. Can Certificates of eligibility for casino business be transferred in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 4 of Decree 03/2017/ND-CP stipulating the following prohibited acts:

1. Running a casino business without a Certificate of eligibility for casino business, excluding those specified in clause 1 Article 62 of this Decree.

2. Running a casino business against the Certificate of eligibility for casino business or the Certificate of investment registration, applicable to enterprises specified in clause 1 Article 62 of this Decree.

3. Illegally transferring, leasing out or lending out casinos to run casino business.

4. Falsifying, leasing out, lending out or transferring the Certificate of eligibility for casino business.

5. Running a casino business while the Certificate of eligibility for casino business or the casino business is suspended according to the decision of a competent authority.

6. Permitting persons other than those specified in Article 11, Article 12 and Article 14 of this Decree to enter a casino under any circumstance.

7. Allowing and/or organize direct betting between gamblers depending on the results of prize-winning games at casinos.

8. Committing a fraud in the organization of and/or participation in a prize-winning game at a casino.

9. Performing acts that affect the security and social order and safety at casinos according to laws.

10. Using gaming machines, gaming tables, token and/or gaming equipment with contents and images which are not permitted by competent inspection authorities.

11. Misusing the casino business to organize and provide prize-winning games illegally via a computer network, telecommunications network or Internet.

12. Misusing the casino business to smuggle or transport foreign currency, gold, silver, gemstones and/or precious metals and launder money, finance the terrorism or trade in prostitution.

13. Certifying the fictitious prize, certify the prize untruly or ultra vires or prevent a gambler from certifying the prize without plausible reasons.

14. Failure to facilitate or obstruct the inspection and violation handling by security officers or competent authorities.

15. Failure to provide information or fail to make reports at the request of competent authorities.

16. Other prohibited acts prescribed in relevant laws.

As such, the law prohibits the transferring the Certificate of eligibility for casino business in Vietnam. Therefore, you cannot purchase this certificate from a licensed business. If you want to do casino business, you must apply for a license according to regulations.

2. Are casino operating enterprises allowed to organize casino business in multiple locations in Vietnam?  

According to Article 5 of Decree 03/2017/ND-CP stipulating casinos as follows:

1. A casino operating enterprise may only run a casino business at a sole facility licensed by a competent authority according to laws.

2. The casino shall be located separately from other business areas of the enterprise:

a) Have separate entrance and exit doors;

b) Have electronic equipment and cameras for constant surveillance and control of all the activities in the casino (24/7), where the following essential positions shall be under surveillance: entrance and exit doors, locations of gaming machines, gaming tables, cashier area, areas for counting and storing cashes and tokens. Records from electronic equipment and camera system at essential positions shall be retained for at least 06 months from the time of recording. In case of necessity, the retention duration may be extended at the request of the competent authority;

c) Have security staff, sufficiently equipment and routes for security and fire safety according to relevant law provisions. Requirements for and tasks of security officers shall be conformant with Decree No. 06/2013/ND-CP dated January 09, 2013 by the Government and amending and replacing documents (if any); and

d) Post the rules for entering or leaving the casino in Vietnamese, English and other languages (if any) at a noticeable place at the entryway of the casino.

According to this Article, casino operating enterprises are only allowed to organize a casino business at a sole facility licensed by a competent authority according to laws in Vietnam.

Best Regards!