Vietnam Proposes Overhauled Regulations for Betting and Gaming Sector

Modernizing Regulatory Compliance

The Ministry of Finance is advancing an overhauled framework to update administrative sanctions across the betting and gaming sectors. Originally established under Decree No. 137/2021/ND-CP, the state management framework requires updates to reflect recent legislative enactments, including amendments to laws governing anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism, administrative violations, and state inspections.

Structure of the Proposed Decree

Structured across 65 articles and four chapters, the draft legislation outlines general provisions, specific violations, jurisdictional enforcement powers, and implementation timelines. It establishes clear operational boundaries and accountability measures for commercial operators across multiple gaming verticals.

Fine Structures and Monetary Penalties

The updated framework establishes distinct financial caps for regulatory non-compliance:

Corporate Caps: The maximum monetary penalty for organizations reaches up to VND 200 million.

Individual Caps: Fines applied to individuals are capped at half of the corporate maximum, standing at VND 100 million for identical violations.

Supplementary Penalties and Enforcement Measures

Beyond monetary fines, regulatory authorities retain enforcement mechanisms to address severe infractions:

Operational Suspension: Temporary suspension of betting, casino, or prize-winning electronic gaming operations for defined periods.

Asset Confiscation: Seizure of illicit evidence and technical equipment directly utilized in committing administrative violations.

Statute of Limitations: Establishes a one-year statute of limitations for infractions in betting and electronic gaming, calculated from the cessation or official detection of ongoing violations.

Categorized Violation Groups

The draft outlines structured groups of administrative infractions tailored to specific verticals:

Betting Operations: Comprises 17 distinct groups of administrative infractions.

Casino Sector: Covers 15 defined categories of regulatory violations.

Prize-Winning Electronic Games: Details 15 specific groups of non-compliance.

AML and Security: Outlines four focused groups concerning anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and the prevention of weapons proliferation.

Enforcement Authority and Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction for issuing violation reports and administering penalties is distributed across multiple state entities. Designated powers are allocated to the People's Police force, local People's Committee chairpersons at all levels, Directors of the Departments of Finance, and specialized state management agencies overseeing betting and electronic gaming operations.