Vietnam Mulls Allowing Citizens to Gamble in Select Casinos Under New Pilot Program

Vietnam’s government is considering reopening domestic casino access for Vietnamese nationals in two major resort destinations, as part of a renewed pilot program with updated rules and higher entry fees.

Recent drafts from the Ministry of Finance propose allowing qualified Vietnamese citizens to gamble at Grand Ho Tram (near Ho Chi Minh City) and Van Don (Quang Ninh Province) under a five-year trial. 

Under the proposal, locals no longer would have to prove monthly income via cumbersome paperwork. Instead, the government may require an entry ticket priced at VND 2.5 million (~US$100) per 24 hours or VND 50 million (~US$2,000) per month — a proxy for financial eligibility. 

The pilot program would expand and build upon the previous initiative in Phu Quoc, which allowed locals to gamble under strict conditions. That scheme has since been suspended, and Vietnamese citizens have been barred from casinos since January 2025. 

In supporting the change, legislative experts argue that allowing locals to play in regulated settings could help curb illegal gambling, enhance oversight, and channel more tax revenue into the system. 

But observers warn of legal complexity: Vietnam’s current gaming laws are considered “unsophisticated and incomplete,” and multiple ministries must approve each change. The framework under Decree 03/2017 remains limited, and Vietnam still lacks a fully independent gaming regulator. 

If approved, the pilot would mark a major shift in Vietnam’s approach to gambling, opening up new domestic demand while maintaining strict controls.