Participation in Gambling via the Internet: Legal Penalties and Enforcement

Official Dispatch 196/TANDTC-PC in 2018 provides the following explanation: “Using internet networks, computer networks, telecommunications networks, electronic means to commit crimes” as stipulated in point c clause 2 Article 321 and point c clause 2 Article 322 of the Criminal Code is understood as using internet networks, computer networks, telecommunications networks, and electronic means to gamble online (such as forming online gambling dens or using internet networks, computer networks, telecommunications networks, electronic means to organize gambling or gamble).

Based on Article 321 of the 2015 Criminal Code regulating the crime of gambling as follows:

1. Anyone who illegally gambles in any form with winnings or losses in money or valuable objects worth from 5,000,000 VND to less than 50,000,000 VND or less than 5,000,000 VND but has been administratively sanctioned for this act or the act specified in Article 322 of this Code or has been convicted of this crime or the crime specified in Article 322 of this Code, without yet having their criminal record expunged and then commits the crime again, shall be subject to a fine from 20,000,000 VND to 100,000,000 VND, non-custodial reform for up to 03 years, or imprisonment from 06 months to 03 years.

2. Committing the crime under one of the following circumstances, shall be subject to imprisonment from 03 years to 07 years:

   + Using internet networks, computer networks, telecommunications networks, electronic means to commit the crime.

3. The offender may also be subject to an additional fine of 10,000,000 VND to 50,000,000 VND.

Thus, according to the above regulations, the law strictly prohibits gambling in any form, including gambling via the internet. Therefore, in this case, the participant shall be subject to imprisonment from 03 years to 07 years and may also be fined from 10,000,000 VND to 50,000,000 VND.

Sincerely!