Vietnam Moves Toward Tighter Oversight of Regulated Betting

Vietnamese authorities are moving forward with a revised regulatory framework that would reshape how licensed betting operates nationwide. A draft decree under government consideration introduces mandatory identity disclosure for all legal bettors, keeps current daily wagering limits unchanged, and cautiously broadens the range of football competitions open to betting.

The draft is intended to replace Decree 06, issued in 2017, which governs betting on horse racing, dog racing, and international football. Officials developed the revised framework after consultations involving government bodies and public stakeholders. The proposal has been accepted in principle and submitted to the government without changes to existing betting caps.

Mandatory Identity Disclosure For Participation

A key change in the draft involves expanded identity verification requirements. The Ministry of Justice recommended clearer and more detailed rules on the personal information bettors must provide when opening an account. Under the proposal, individuals would need to disclose their full name, nationality, occupation, phone number, address, and place of residence before placing any wagers.

The justice ministry said the measure is necessary to ensure compliance with the 2022 Law on Anti-Money Laundering. The Ministry of Finance later confirmed that it accepted this recommendation and revised the draft decree accordingly, making full identification a core condition for regulated betting.

One policy summary stated, “The face of gambling in Vietnam is set to undergo a major transformation as the government embarks on ensuring that those placing bets do so under strict regulation.” If implemented, the rules would remove anonymity from licensed betting and allow closer monitoring of participation and financial flows.

Betting Cap Proposals Set Aside

Debate over betting limits revealed differing views among ministries. The Ministry of Science and Technology proposed raising the daily cap to VND100 million, about $3,800, per person, or setting a VND10 million limit for each betting product.

The proposal aimed to help licensed operators attract higher-spending customers and compete with offshore betting markets, with risks managed through identification and financial monitoring. The Ministry of Finance rejected the suggestion, stressing that legal betting is meant to serve recreational demand. Citing Vietnam’s average annual income of roughly $5,000 per capita, the ministry retained the existing cap of VND10 million per person per day at a single licensed operator.

Broader List Of Football Competitions

The draft also addresses concerns about the narrow scope of football events currently eligible for legal betting. Existing rules largely restrict betting to tournaments announced by FIFA, resulting in limited betting periods each year.

After receiving feedback from several agencies, including the Ministry of Public Security, the revised draft expands eligibility to include major competitions organized by UEFA, AFC, CONMEBOL, and CONCACAF. National leagues and cup competitions from countries ranked in FIFA’s top 10 as of the previous December would also qualify.

Despite the broader scope, international football betting would still proceed under a controlled pilot program. The draft allows a maximum of three licensed enterprises to operate, with the prime minister responsible for selecting operators due to concerns over public order and money-laundering risks.

Source:

"Vietnam Proposes Mandatory Identity Disclosure for Football Bettors", news.worldcasinodirectory.com, December 26, 2025