Partcipating in Sic bo can be sentenced up to 7 years in prison in Vietnam

Partcipating in Sic bo can be sentenced up to 7 years in prison in Vietnam(Source: Internet)

1. What is Sic bo?

Sic bo is an illegal form of gambling.

Currently, the law does not have a specific concept of illegal gambling.

However, according to the previous provisions in Clause 1, Article 1 of Resolution 01/2010/NQ-HDTP, illegal gambling is gambling that is done in any form with the aim of winning or losing money, objects without the permission of a competent state agency;

Or is permitted by a competent state agency but does not follow the regulation of the granted license.

2. The level of administrative sanction for participating in Sic bo in Vietnam

For participating in Sic bo, it is possible to be administratively sanctioned for the act of illegal gambling with the following fines:

- A fine ranging from VND 1,000,000 to VND 2,000,000 shall be imposed for the following acts:

Illegal gambling in one of the forms such as coin guessing game, gin rummy, "tổ tôm" (draw-and-discard card game), poker, three chrysanthemums card game, 3 card poker, four color cards, Vietnamese poker, teen patti, Xiangqi, Cockfighting, sic bo or other forms with the aim of winning or losing with money, property, or in-kind.

- Apply additional sanctions: confiscation of material evidences and means of administrative violations. In addition, if the violator is a foreigner, he may also be subject to expulsion.

- Remedial measures: forcible return of illegal profits obtained from the committing violations.

The above fine level applies to individuals, if the organization commits similar violations, the fine will be doubled.

Thus, individuals who participate in Sic bo with the aim of winning and losing with money can be fined up to 2,000,000 VND.

(According to Clause 2, Article 4, Point a, Clause 2, Point a, Point c, Clause 6 and Clause 7, Article 28 of Decree 144/2021/ND-CP)

3. Criminal liability for participating in Sic bo in Vietnam

Persons who have the act of gambling may be prosecuted for criminal liability for gambling offenses specified in Article 321 of the Criminal Code 2015 (amended 2017) as follows:

- Any person who illegally gambles in any shape or form with the stakes (in cash or kind) assessed at from VND 5,000,000 to under VND 50,000,000 or under VND 5,000,000 despite the fact that he/she has incurred an administrative penalty or has an unspent conviction for the same offence or any of the offences specified in Article 322 of the Criminal Code 2015 shall face a penalty of up to 03 year's community sentence or 06 - 36 months' imprisonment in Vietnam

- This offence committed in any of the following circumstances carries a penalty of 03 - 07 years' imprisonment:

+ The offence is committed in a professional manner;

+ The stake is assessed at VND ≥ 50,000,000;

+ The offence is committed using the Internet, a computer network, telecommunications network or electronic device;

+ Dangerous recidivism.

- The offender might also be liable to a fine of from 10,000,000 VND to 50,000,000 VND.

Thus, the act of participating in Sic bo in Vietnam can be administratively sanctioned up to 2,000,000 VND for individuals or examined for criminal liability up to 7 years in prison.

Quoc Dat

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