Legislators discuss betting decree

According to a draft decree proposed by the Finance Ministry, those who participate in these activities must be at least 18 years old and the amount of betting can only range from VND10,000-1 million per day (US$0.5-50).

The draft decree applies to all individuals and organisations, domestically and internationally, who get involved in these types of gambling within the country. 

Particularly for football betting, it suggests allowing only one State-owned company to pilot football betting and this company must have at least a starting capital of VND500 billion (US$24 million). 

At the Committee’s ongoing session in Hanoi on August 14, Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung said such a decree is necessary at this time due to a rising demand by people who have increased access to information related to betting from abroad, such as betting through websites of companies located outside the country. 

Since 1998, Vietnam has allowed four companies to hold horse and dog racing but it is only limited to small-scale betting, according to the Finance Ministry's report. 

However, Dung said the country lacked a legal framework to regulate these activities, considering 135 countries and territories worldwide had already legalised them. 

Public Security Ministry statistics showed that more than 1,250 cases of illegal betting were reported between 2000 and 2009 and their value was up to US$1 million. 

Phung Quoc Hien, Chairman of the NA Financial and Budgetary Affairs Committee, said the NA agreed on the need to issue a decree, which could help reducing the illegal activities and contribute to the state budget. 

However, Truong Thi Mai, Chairwoman of the NA Social Affairs Committee, said the draft decree did not touch upon unexpected effects that these betting activities could have on society. Limiting the amount of betting from VND10,000-1 million would not limit the participation of low-income earners, she added. 

Ksor Phuoc, Chairman of the NA Committee on Ethnic Affairs, said the Government must be careful about legalising these activities, which can make it easier for money launders. 

On the same note, Nguyen Van Hien, Chairman of the NA Committee on Legal Affairs, said the range of betting is too low, which wouldn't limit these activities to an exclusive high-income group of people. 

"Probably no one wants to bet at the level of VND10,000; with which you can't buy a packet of vegetables nowadays," Hien said. "If we want to do it right, then we need to put it at a realistic level, such as from VND50,000-5 million.”

The Finance Ministry said the decree if passed could attract investment and create new jobs but it did not clarify to what extent. In 2010, horse racing businesses brought VND21.6 billion; and dog racing activities contributed VND2.3 billion to the state budget in 2012. 

Regarding a draft decree on casino business, members of the NA Standing Committee agreed that only foreigners and overseas Vietnamese would be allowed to enter a casino.

However, Hien also noted that many Vietnamese already flocked to casinos in Singapore and Cambodia to play, causing a loss of foreign currency and other social problems. 

Hien suggested that the Government consider allowing Vietnamese nationals to enter casinos in the country but strictly limit those who pass requirements related to income and personal record. 

In the long-term, Finance Minister Dung said a law on regulating gaming businesses should be developed, which covered lotteries, casinos and betting. 

The NA Standing Committee will consider passing a resolution on the two draft decrees due to take effect as of January 1, 2014.