To regulate the distribution of lottery tickets via the Internet in Vietnam

To regulate the distribution of lottery tickets via the Internet in Vietnam (Internet image) 

To regulate the distribution of lottery tickets via the Internet in Vietnam

The content is mentioned in Official Dispatch 9110/BTC-TCNH in 2023 on regulating lottery distribution activities via the Internet, issued by the Ministry of Finance.

In 2022, the Ministry of Finance issued an official dispatch requesting the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct relevant units to strengthen inspection and supervision of lottery business activities to prevent the service of buying lottery tickets over the Internet to ensure the interests of buyers and not affect local budget revenues from licensed lottery business activities.

However, recently, in the process of managing lottery business activities, the Ministry of Finance recognized that the phenomenon of some organizations and individuals continuing to provide services to buy foreign lottery tickets or buy construction lottery tickets or domestic computerized lottery tickets via the Internet can cause social disorder and safety, affecting licensed lottery business activities and local budget revenues.

To effectively implement Directive 16/CT-TTg and legal regulations on lottery business, the Ministry of Finance requests that the People's Committees of provinces and cities:

1. Direct the business registration agency to review the issuance of business registration for lottery agency services in the area to ensure compliance with the provisions of the lottery law; The use of phrases such as "vé xổ số", "vé số", "Lucky", "Lottery", "mua hộ vé xổ số", "đại lý xổ số", "đại lý xổ số Vietlott" may cause a misunderstanding that registered business organizations are allowed to conduct lottery business and lottery agents.

2. Direct lottery companies in the area to implement Official Dispatch 9108/BTC-TCNH dated August 24, 2023, of the Ministry of Finance on rectifying traditional lottery ticket distribution activities and complying with legal regulations in lottery business organizations.

3. Direct the Police, Department of Finance, and local authorities to manage and grasp the situation to strictly handle businesses that intentionally provide services to buy/sell lottery tickets via the Internet in contravention of legal regulations and handle administrative violations according to the provisions of Decree 98/2013/ND-CP dated August 28, 2013 of the Government stipulating penalties for administrative violations in the field of insurance business and lottery business; or take advantage of buying lottery tickets for fraud or illegal gambling business; or act of printing fake lottery tickets and opening lottery tables to draw prizes yourself. If there are signs of a criminal violation, the file will be transferred to the police for investigation and handling.

4. For the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, in addition to implementing the work mentioned in points 1, 2, and 3 above, it is recommended to inspect the activities of Onbit Vietnam Co., Ltd., including : (i) business lines specified in the Business Registration Certificate issued by the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City; (ii) is this business's activity of buying lottery tickets in accordance with the Business Registration Certificate? Is it in accordance with the law? In case of violation, it is recommended to handle administrative violations according to the law on lottery business and the law on enterprises.

5. For the People's Committee of Hanoi City, the People's Committee of Soc Trang Province, and the People's Committee of Dong Nai Province, in addition to implementing the work mentioned in Points 1, 2 and 3 above, we recommend reviewing businesses with business registration in the area in the attached Appendix and inspecting the provision of domestic lottery ticket purchasing services, including: (i) Does the enterprise sign lottery agency contracts with Lottery Companies? (For businesses with registered business lines as lottery agents); (ii) Is the enterprise's activity of selling lottery tickets via the Internet in accordance with its business license? Is it in accordance with the law? In the case of detecting violations, it is recommended to handle administrative violations according to the law on lottery businesses and the law on enterprises.

Processing results should be sent to the Ministry of Finance before September 30, 2023, so that the Ministry of Finance can synthesize information, manage, and report to Government Leaders.

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 9110/BTC-TCNH 2023.

Duong Chau Thanh

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE