What are conditions for opening gaming centers in Vietnam?

What are conditions for opening gaming centers in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 35 of the Decree 72/2013/NĐ-CP (amended by Article 1 of the Decree 27/2018/NĐ-CP) stipulating conditions for opening gaming centers in Vietnam as follows:

1. Organizations and individuals may only run public gaming centers after obtaining the certificate of eligibility to run public gaming centers.

2. The certificate of eligibility to run public gaming centers shall be issued after the conditions below are satisfied:

a) The public gaming center is registered;

b) The public gaming center is at least 200m far away from primary schools, lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools, secondary schools, continuing education centers, upper-secondary ethnic boarding schools, and upper-secondary ethnic day schools, based on the shortest road length from the public gaming center to the main entrance or side entrance to these schools;

c) A sign saying “public gaming center” is put up, which specifies the name, address, phone number, and business registration number. If the public gaming center is also an Internet agency, the sign must also say “Internet agency”. If the public gaming center is also a public Internet access point, the sign must also say “public Internet access point”;

The total area of computer rooms of the public gaming center is at least 50 m2 for urban areas in special class, class I, class II, class III, at least 40 m2 for urban areas in class IV, class V, and at least 30 m2 for other areas;

dd) Light and brightness in the computer rooms are balanced;

e) The procedure and equipment for fire prevention and fighting are sufficient, according to regulations of the Ministry of Public Security;

g) The fee of issuance of the Certificate of eligibility to run public gaming centers is paid.

3. The issuing authorities are Departments of Information and Communications or the People’s Committees of districts authorized by People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities (hereinafter referred to as provinces) in terms of issuance of, modifications to, renewal, replacement, and revocation of certificates of eligibility to run public gaming centers.

4. Each People’s Committees of province shall

a) Provide specific guidance on types of urban areas in the province to apply conditions pertaining to areas of computer room prescribed in Point d Clause 2 Article 35 of this Decree;

b) Verify applications, undertake inspection visit to facilities and consider issuing, modifying, renewing, replacing or revoking the certificates of eligibility to run public gaming centers in the province,

c) Authorize the Department of Information and Communications or the People’s Committees of districts to act as issuing authorities;

d) Direct the Department of Information and Communications to publish a list of public gaming centers issued with certificates of eligibility to run public gaming centers or have their certificates revoked in the province, a list of video games G1 whose scripts are authorized and list of video games G1 whose authorizations to scripts of video games G1 are revoked; keep public gaming center owners informed with the list of video games G1 whose scripts are authorized and list of video games G1 whose authorizations to scripts of video games G1 are revoked; take charge and cooperate with People’s Committees of districts in raising public awareness of law, inspect and take actions against violations committed by public Internet access points and public gaming centers in the province. Before every December 15, a report using the form No. 14 in Appendix I issued herewith shall be sent to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

5. The Ministry of Finance shall cooperate with the Ministry of Information and Communications in imposing the fee for the issuance of the Certificate of eligibility to run public gaming centers.

What are rights and obligations of owners of gaming centers in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 36 of the Decree 72/2013/NĐ-CP (amended by Article 1 of the Decree 27/2018/NĐ-CP) stipulating rights and obligations of owners of gaming centers in Vietnam as follows:

Rights and obligations of owners of gaming centers:

1. Installing equipment to provide game services at the location written on the Certificate of eligibility to open gaming centers;

2. Providing Internet access services after signing Internet agent contracts with Internet access service providers;

3. Posting the regulations on the use of game services at noticeable positions, including the prohibitions in Article 5 of this Decree, rights and obligations of Internet users and players in Article 10 and 37 of this Decree.

4. Posting the list of G1 games, of which the contents are approved, together with the game classification by age (updated on the website of the Ministry of Information and Communications: www.mic.gov.vn);

5. Do not allow Internet users to use their computers to commit prohibited acts in Article 5 of this Decree;

6. Requesting the enterprise that signs the Internet agent contract to provide instructions and information about Internet access services; facilitating the inspections and supervisions carried out by that enterprise;

7. Participating in training courses in Internet and video games offered by local state management authorities and enterprises;

8. Do not open from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM;

9. Complying with the regulations on information safety and information security;

10. Facilitating the inspections carried out by competent state management authorities.

Best regards!