Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Official Telegram 1123/CD-TTg on November 25, 2022, directing state agencies to step up prevention and enforcement against crimes and legal violations linked to football betting1. The telegram was sent to the Minister of Public Security, the Minister of Information and Communications, and the chairmen of provincial and centrally run city people's committees1.
The directive states that betting activity has become highly complex during the World Cup 2022, with increasingly sophisticated methods and serious effects on security and public order1.
The Prime Minister set out three instructions1:
| Agency | Instruction |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Public Security | Deploy synchronized professional measures, manage key subjects and areas, and organize operations to dismantle betting rings and networks, especially during the World Cup 2022 final stage; also target related crimes such as loan sharking, fraud, robbery and theft |
| Ministry of Information and Communications | Increase public communication so people avoid gambling, especially online football betting; work with the Ministry of Public Security to block betting websites and dismantle betting venues and networks |
| Provincial and city people's committees | Direct functional forces, with police as the core, to crack down and strictly handle betting-related crimes locally; mobilize the political system and encourage residents to report betting activity |
The Ministry of Public Security said it would review current law for gaps, monitor online gambling methods, work with the Ministry of Information and Communications, the State Bank of Vietnam and telecom and internet providers on cybersecurity and online payments, and expand international cooperation on cybercrime1. It also published a hotline for reporting betting crime, 06923485691.
What it means for players
The telegram does not change Vietnam's underlying gambling law. It directs police, communications authorities and local governments to act against football betting during the World Cup 2022 final stage1. For anyone in Vietnam, the practical effect described in the document is more enforcement attention on betting organizers and participants, including online betting, and on related offenses such as loan sharking and fraud1. The Ministry of Information and Communications was told to block betting websites, so access to unlicensed online bookmakers may be disrupted1. The document also calls on residents to report suspected betting activity to the nearest police office or the hotline1. It does not describe any new licensing, legal market or penalty schedule, and no specific penalties for players are set out in the text1.
What happens next
The telegram assigns tasks to the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Information and Communications and provincial and city people's committees, with a focus on the World Cup 2022 final stage1. No deadlines, reporting dates or follow-up announcements are given in the document1.
Sources1 sources
- Thủ tướng chỉ đạo triệt phá các đường dây cá độ bóng đá, xaydungchinhsach.chinhphu.vn
