Vietnamese economists have supported the Ministry of Finance’s initiative to ease regulations governing casino gambling for local residents. Some experts are even calling for a complete nationwide lifting of existing bans in order to improve oversight, increase state revenues, and prevent funds from flowing to foreign gambling destinations.
The Tuoi Tre news outlet interviewed a number of economists and analysts, all of whom expressed the need for industry reform. This comes after reports of the Ministry of Finance’s plan to grant a permanent exemption for the Corona Resort & Casino on Phu Quoc Island. The ministry also proposes replacing the current requirement to prove a certain income level with a simpler fixed-entry-fee model.
Dinh Xuan Thao, former head of the Institute for Legislative Research under the National Assembly, stated that the current system only encourages locals to travel abroad for gambling.
“Casinos are already licensed nationwide, but Vietnamese citizens are barred from entering them. This is illogical. Expanding access would allow for better oversight,” Thao said.
He added that allowing locals to gamble within the country would give the government the ability to monitor player behavior and curb illegal underground operations.
Economist Ha Ton Vinh noted that access to licensed Vietnamese casinos – whether gaming rooms in hotels, small casinos, or large integrated resorts – should be open to locals, following the models of Macau and Singapore.
He also proposed launching a nationwide pilot program lasting up to five years and establishing a dedicated casino regulatory body under the Ministry of Finance.
Nguyen Quang Dong, head of the Institute for Policy Studies and Media Development, agreed that casino gambling should be available to adults but suggested limiting access to designated gambling zones only.
Currently, Vietnam has nine licensed casinos, including three integrated resorts: Corona on Phu Quoc, The Grand Ho Tram near Ho Chi Minh City, and Hoiana near Hoi An.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our Telegram channel!
