Pilot Program Allowing Vietnamese Citizens Aged 21 and Above to Play in Casinos for 3 Years

This regulation is positively evaluated in the construction, management, and use of Casino establishments. Some opinions suggest that the conditions for allowing Vietnamese citizens to participate are unreasonable and unfair compared to foreigners or overseas Vietnamese, who are freely allowed entry. However, it cannot be denied that, both currently and in the future, Casinos will remain a "luxury" form of entertainment for the majority of Vietnamese citizens. According to the regulation, Vietnamese citizens wishing to enter must be at least 21 years old and are required to provide financial proof showing a minimum monthly income of 10 million VND. This is a relatively reasonable amount to prevent students, fresh graduates, and low-income individuals from participating in this game. This regulation also contributes to reducing social ills and burdens associated with the development of Casino businesses.

Article 12 of Decree 03/2017/ND-CP, pilot permitting eligible Vietnamese citizens to play at certain Casinos for 3 years. The specific rules are as follows:

The pilot implementation period is 03 years, starting from the date the first casino business is allowed to pilot permitting Vietnamese citizens to play at the Casino Business Point. After 03 years of piloting, the Government of Vietnam will summarize, evaluate, and decide whether to continue allowing Vietnamese citizens to play at casinos or to terminate allowing Vietnamese citizens to play at casinos in Vietnam.

Thus, after 3 years of piloting, the Government of Vietnam along with relevant ministries will summarize, evaluate, and consider whether to continue or terminate allowing Vietnamese citizens to play at Casinos.

Illustrative Image (Roulette wheel)

Conditions for Vietnamese citizens to participate in Casino:

- Must be at least 21 years old and have full civil act capacity according to Vietnamese law;- Have sufficient financial capacity to participate in playing at the Casino Business Point. The player must prove they have a regular income of 10 million VND/month or higher, or fall under the third bracket or higher of the personal income tax law. The Ministry of Finance provides specific guidance on the documents proving the player has sufficient financial capacity;- Must purchase tickets to participate in playing at the Casino Business Point. The ticket price is 1 million VND/24 continuous hours/person or 25 million VND/month/person;- Not subject to being prohibited by family members with full civil act capacity, such as parents, adoptive parents, spouse, biological children, or themselves from entering a request to the casino business to not allow playing at the Casino Business Point;- Vietnamese citizens permitted to enter and play at the Casino Business Point can only use Vietnamese dong to exchange for chips and can exchange chips back to Vietnamese dong in case of not exhausting play or winning.

Subjects prohibited from entering Casinos:

- Individuals who are being prosecuted criminally by the prosecuting agencies of Vietnam or foreign countries, currently under investigation, prosecution, or trial;- Individuals with criminal records for crimes violating national security or other intentional crimes with sentences of over 03 years of imprisonment that have not been expunged;- Individuals currently under a suspended prison sentence;- Individuals serving non-custodial reform, house arrest, ban on residence, ban on holding positions, ban on conducting business in sectors or professions conditional to security and order as decided by the court;- Individuals undergoing educational measures in communes, wards, commune-level towns; those with decisions to apply administrative measures are awaiting enforcement; those currently addicted to drugs; those with suspended or deferred enforcement of decisions to mandatory education centers or mandatory drug rehabilitation centers;- Individuals subjected to administrative measures but not yet elapsed the duration to be considered free from such administrative measures.

When Vietnamese citizens enter Casinos, players will be issued an electronic card containing full player information to ensure control and management. Additionally, all revenues from ticket sales of Vietnamese citizens participating in the Casino Business Point are to be retained by the local area where the business operates the casino to finance social welfare goals, community services, and ensure public security and order following the guidance of the Ministry of Finance.

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