Is Playing Card Games for Fun Without Betting Money in Hospitals a Violation of the Law?
Translation from Vietnamese to English
Is Playing Cards Without Betting Money in the Hospital a Legal Violation?
Is playing cards in the hospital subject to criminal responsibility? We have a friend who is currently hospitalized, and we plan to visit them for a few days. During the stay, we will have a lot of free time, so can we play cards for leisure without betting money? If caught, will we be held criminally responsible? Thank you!Is playing cards for entertainment without wagering money in the hospital a violation of the law?
Based on Point a, Clause 2, Article 28 of Decree 144/2021/ND-CP, which stipulates the act of illegal gambling as follows:
a) Illegally gambling in one of the forms such as "xoc dia," "ta la," "to tom," "tu lo kho," "tam cuc," "3 cay," "tu sac," "do den," chess, Indian poker with 6 cards, poker with 13 cards, advancing 13 cards, cockfighting, "tai xiu," or other forms with the purpose of winning or losing money, assets, or items;
The act of illegal gambling is defined as playing in a form with the intent of winning or losing money, assets, or items. Therefore, playing without wagering money or items in the hospital is not considered an illegal act and does not violate the law. However, some hospital policies may prohibit playing cards within the hospital premises, so you should carefully review the hospital regulations before playing.
Can the act of playing cards in the hospital be subject to criminal liability?
Based on Article 321 of the Criminal Code 2015, amended by Clause 120, Article 1 Law Amending the Criminal Code 2017 as follows:
Any person who illegally gambles in any form where the winnings or losses in money or items are valued between 5,000,000 VND and under 50,000,000 VND, or under 5,000,000 VND but has been administratively fined for this act or the act prescribed in Article 322 of this Code, or has been convicted for this crime or the crime prescribed in Article 322 of this Code, has not yet had their criminal record expunged but continues to violate, shall be subject to a fine of 20,000,000 VND to 100,000,000 VND, non-custodial reform for up to 3 years, or imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years.
The crime committed under one of the following circumstances shall be subject to imprisonment from 3 years to 7 years:
a) In a professional manner;
b) The money or items used for gambling are valued at 50,000,000 VND or more;
c) Using the internet, computer networks, telecommunication networks, or electronic means to commit the crime;
d) Dangerous recidivism.
- The offender may also be fined from 10,000,000 VND to 50,000,000 VND.
If the act of playing cards in the hospital in any form involves winnings or losses in money or items valued between 5,000,000 VND and under 50,000,000 VND or under 5,000,000 VND with previous administrative fines, criminal liability can be pursued. If the form of playing cards in the hospital does not involve wagering money or items, criminal liability will not be pursued. Thus, those who play without wagering money or items will not be subject to criminal liability when playing cards in the hospital.
Respectfully!
