Ho Chi Minh City police said on 29 August 2024 that they have grasped the operating method of labubu lotteries and are collecting documents on the activity to handle violations under the law if any are found. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thang Long, deputy head of the city police's advisory office, gave the statement at a press meeting on socioeconomic issues organized by the municipal Party Committee's education board and the Department of Information and Communications1.
He described the labubu lottery as a form of betting in exchange for labubu plush toys that is flourishing online1. Sellers on TikTok and Facebook have organized games similar to draws, lotteries or raffles, drawing wide participation, according to the report1. Each round averages 10 to 20 slots, or more depending on scale, and players can spend money on one or several slots to raise their chances of winning. The amount spent can range from a few tens of thousands of dong to as much as a million dong, depending on the rules set by the livestream host1.
Nguyen Thang Long said fundraising and prize draws require approval and permission from the competent authority, with strict rules and charters1. He said selling labubu plush toys, or any product, in that format may show signs of gambling. Where the total amount paid into a single round reaches 5 million dong or more, and the number of participants reaches 10 or more, this constitutes the acts of organizing gambling and gambling for both the seller and the buyer, he said1.
"đang tổ chức thu thập tài liệu về hoạt động này để xử lý theo quy định của pháp luật nếu phát hiện vi phạm"
The report said city police proactively deploy measures to detect and handle legal violations, including the use of cyberspace for gambling or organizing gambling, and that any handling of suspected violations must rest on documents and evidence collected under proper legal process1. Police also warned that people taking part in such activities can easily become victims of fraud, including buying counterfeit goods, being tricked into transferring deposits for online orders, or winning prizes without receiving the product1.
What it means for players
The police statement treats the seller and the buyer as potentially liable once a single round reaches 5 million dong in total stakes and 10 or more participants, so participation is not only a risk for the channel host1. Buyers who pay for slots in these livestream draws fall inside the conduct the police described. The same statement lists fraud risks for participants: counterfeit goods, deposit transfers for orders that do not arrive, and prizes that are never delivered1. Vietnam's rules on when draws and prize promotions need official approval are set out in the guide to lucky draws and promotions, and the wider legal position is covered in gambling laws in Asia and Can I gamble in Vietnam?. State and licensed lotteries, and who may play them, are explained in lotteries in Asia, while fake win messages and cloned sites are covered in lottery scams.
What happens next
Police said they are gathering documents and will handle any violations found under the law, without giving a timeline1. They advised anyone who discovers gambling-related activity to contact the police promptly to report it and provide information for verification and investigation1. No charges, arrests or specific cases have been reported in connection with labubu lotteries.
