As Vietnam’s casino pilot program for locals looks to expand, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has lobbied for the city to be the next test site. Residents are hopeful that the proposal will be considered by the country’s Party Central Committee in the near future.
If the proposal is approved, it is unclear whether the program would apply to the various slot clubs already in operation in hotels throughout the city, or if a new casino or integrated resort would be built.
The program was first announced in 2017 as a way to allow locals to gamble at select locations throughout the country. It officially began in 2019 with an original timeline of three years for two casinos, but only one, the Corona Resort & Casino in Phú Quốc, is currently operational.
In March, Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance announced that the program was being renewed for two additional years and two additional casino sites. While those sites have still yet to be chosen, the government is said to favor new casino projects in Khanh Hoa Province and Da Nang City.
Under current protocols, only locals who are at least 21 years of age and can show proof of monthly income greater than $430 are allowed to gamble at select casinos. Eligible bettors are also charged an entry fee of $43.15 every 24 hours.
