Vietnam's Ministry of Finance issued Document 6858/BTC-TCNH on 2 July 2024, addressing the service of buying lottery tickets over the internet and sent to units that distribute lottery tickets through apps and websites1. The document follows an earlier ministry document, 9111/BTC-TCNH dated 24/08/2023, which ordered a tightening of online sale of computerized lottery tickets1.
Vietlott, the state computerized lottery company, set out the contents of the 2024 document in a customer notice published on 11 August 20251. According to that notice, lottery is a conditional business: only lottery companies, lottery agents and retail ticket sellers may operate in it, and they must meet all conditions set by law1. Buying on someone else's behalf is not recognized in Vietnam's economic sector classification, so authorizing a third party to buy tickets is not legal1.
The notice states that units distributing bought-on-behalf tickets through apps or websites hold no lottery business license and are not Vietlott agents, yet charge users fees of 2% to 8% depending on the type of product1. It adds that distributing tickets over the internet, confirmed by email or shown in an app, has not been approved by the Ministry of Finance, and that tickets bought this way often lack important information1.
"Hoạt động mua hộ vé xổ số điện toán không được công nhận trong hệ thống ngành kinh tế Việt Nam, do đó, việc ủy quyền cho bên thứ ba mua hộ vé là không hợp pháp."
The notice says some payment intermediary and credit institution websites and apps in northern and southern Vietnam have been running bought-on-behalf services for computerized lottery tickets1. It says this creates risks of disputes and lawsuits because the customer does not hold the ticket directly, and that a winner might not be paid or might be forced to share the prize1. It also cites risks of money laundering, tax evasion and social problems1.
Vietlott lists its own products as Mega 6/45, Power 6/55, Max 3D, Max 3D+, Max 3D Pro, Keno, Bingo18 and Lotto 5/35, sold through its nationwide points of sale and its Vietlott SMS phone application1. It says it will report violations to the authorities for handling under law1. No fines, prosecutions or enforcement actions connected to Document 6858/BTC-TCNH have been reported1.
What it means for players
For anyone in Vietnam buying lottery tickets online, the ministry's position as relayed by Vietlott is that app and website purchases made through intermediaries are not a recognized channel, and that the buyer does not hold the ticket. That matters most at the point of a claim: the notice says a customer may not receive a prize or may be pressed to split it1. Fees of 2% to 8% are charged on top by those intermediaries1. Vietlott's own points of sale and its SMS application are the two channels it names as official1. The same notice applies to provincial lottery sellers and agents, who are told to follow both ministry documents1. General background on how state lotteries work in the region is in the guide to lotteries in Asia.
What happens next
Vietlott says it will report violations of the rules to the competent authorities for handling under law1. No further dated steps, deadlines or penalties have been reported1.
Sources1 sources
- KHUYẾN CÁO KHÁCH HÀNG, vietlott.vn
