From December 1, 2017, Vietnamese Nationals Allowed to Play in Casinos

The above content is included in Circular 102/2017/TT-BTC, recently issued by the Ministry of Finance, providing guidance on certain provisions stipulated in Decree 03/2017/ND-CP dated January 16, 2017, by the Government of Vietnam regarding casino business.

The dossier to prove financial capability includes documents proving taxable income from level 3 or higher as prescribed in the Law on Personal Income Tax; certified copies of personal income tax declarations already settled by the tax authority or a confirmation from the tax authority on the fulfillment of tax obligations proving that the player has taxable income from level 3 or higher as prescribed in the Law on Personal Income Tax within 1 year before entering the casino.

Documents to prove regular income of 10 million VND/month or more include certified copies of monthly income confirmation, monthly salary tables, or salary payment decisions of the organization where the player is working confirmed in the 3 months closest to the date of entering the casino; or certified copies of other income sources such as valid house rental or property rental contracts; certified copies of bank savings books, bank deposit account statements of the player with a term of 1 year or more and generating monthly interest of 10 million VND or more.

In such cases where individual dossiers cannot prove income reaching 10 million VND/month, the player may simultaneously present multiple dossiers to prove such income.

According to Decree 03/2017/ND-CP dated January 16, 2017, citizens will be allowed to play in casinos during the trial period of three years, starting from the date the first casino business enterprise is permitted to pilot allowing Vietnamese people to play at the casino business venue. Afterward, the Government of Vietnam will summarize, evaluate, and decide whether to continue allowing or not.

Players must meet certain conditions such as being 21 years of age or older and having full civil capacity, having sufficient financial capability, and must purchase tickets to participate in the casino (the entry ticket fee is one million VND/continuous 24 hours/person or 25 million VND/month/person), not being among the subjects whose relatives have requested the casino business enterprise not to allow playing there.

The guiding circular does not mention which casino will be piloted for Vietnamese people to play or if all venues will be allowed.

Source: Saigon Times Online

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