According to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), licensing of prize-winning electronic games was done in accordance with the Prime Minister’s Decision 32 until Decree 86/2013 was promulgated.

By that time, more than 20 businesses had licenses, mostly in large cities with developed tourism such as Nha Trang, Quang Ninh, Phan Thiet, Hanoi and HCM City.

On July 29, 2013, the government issued Decree 86 on the business of prize-winning electronic games for foreigners. The legal document was later amended and supplemented in the Decree 175/2016.

From the time Decree 86 took effect to December 31, 2019, 42 tourism accommodation establishments got certificates on meeting conditions to provide prize-winning electronic game services in nearly 20 provinces and cities, with the total game machines of 2,611.

From the time Decree 86 took effect to December 31, 2019, 42 tourism accommodation establishments got certificates on meeting conditions to provide prize-winning electronic game services in nearly 20 provinces and cities, with the total game machines of 2,611.

The highest revenue from casinos and prize-winning electronic games is mostly sourced from southern provinces, which account for 50 percent of the total market revenue, followed by the central and northern regions.

FIA reported that the total revenue from prize-winning electronic games in 2018 reached VND13.248 trillion, an increase of 22.8 percent over 2017, or twice as much as 2013. The amount of taxes and fees paid to the state budget was VND2.785 trillion in 2018, up by 26 percent over 2017.

According to Do Van Su from FIA, since 2013, prize-winning electronic games pay VND1.9 trillion to the state budget every year. Since the day a full legal framework was set, the market has been growing steadily year after year and the current market size is two times higher than it was before the promulgation of the decree.

The prize-winning electronic games club at Pullman Saigon Center in HCM City reported profit of VND20.1 billion in 2018, while Charlie One Club of Mariott Hotel in Hanoi reported profit of VND60.6 billion.

According to Su, the government of Vietnam has allowed 11 businesses to run casinos, including 10 casinos reserved for people with foreign passports and one for Vietnamese.

Of these, eight casinos are operational, including six small ones in the northen and central regions (Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Da Nang) and two large ones in Ba Ria – Vung Tau (capitalized at over $4 billion) and Phu Quoc (over $2 billion).

Meanwhile, three casinos have not been put into operation in Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa and Thua Thien-Hue.

Corona Phu Quoc is the only casino allowed to receive Vietnamese people on a trial basis.

In 2019, the total revenue of eight businesses running casinos was VND2.5 trillion, and they paid VND1.34 trillion to the state budget.

Le Ha

Casino development helps stimulate tourism demand in VN

In a document to the government, the Vietnam Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE) suggested developing casino services and prize winning games as a solution to recover the economy after the epidemic ends.

Measures proposed to promote casino operations

The Vietnam Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE) has suggested the development of casino services as a means of economic recovery, in a document submitted to the Government.