Hà Nội police warned on December 28, 2024 that influencers on YouTube, TikTok and other social media platforms in Vietnam are hosting "blind bag" livestreams that constitute disguised gambling, and urged citizens to avoid taking part and to report such streams1.
In the format police described, viewers buy numbered tickets tied to mystery bags, at prices from VNĐ20,000 (US$0.79) to VNĐ50,000 (US$1.96) per number1. Hosts then use randomizing methods such as spinning a wheel or rolling dice to pick winners, and each winning number receives a mystery bag opened live on stream1. The bags are promoted as holding trendy collectibles, jewelry or other high-value items1. Police said organizers profit from the gap between ticket sales and the cost of the prizes1.
Police said the activity is essentially gambling, because participants wager money without knowing the outcome1. They said hosting these livestreams constitutes organizing gambling, which is illegal under Article 321 of Vietnam's Penal Code, and that those who take part, knowingly or not, are considered gamblers under the law1.
"In recent weeks, a concerning trend has emerged on social media platforms in Việt Nam, where the popular "blind bag" game is being exploited to run disguised gambling schemes during livestreams."
The penalties police cited depend on the amount involved1:
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Gambling, by monetary value involved | Fine of VNĐ20 million (US$786) to VNĐ100 million (US$3,929), non-custodial reform for up to three years, or imprisonment for six months to three years |
| Minor gambling violations, stakes under VNĐ5 million (US$196) | Administrative fine of VNĐ200,000 (US$7.9) to VNĐ500,000 (US$19.6) |
| Other gambling-related offenses, such as hosting or facilitating illegal betting | Fine of up to VNĐ5 million |
Police urged citizens to avoid any pay-to-play games or prize-draw activities on social media platforms, saying these often carry hidden legal risks and exploit participants under the guise of entertainment1. They also encouraged the public to report livestreams or advertisements promoting disguised gambling schemes, saying timely reporting helps law enforcement crack down on the activity1.
What it means for players
The warning covers a format that looks like entertainment rather than betting. Buying a numbered ticket in a blind bag stream is treated by police as wagering, and police said participants are considered gamblers under the law whether or not they knew the stream was gambling1. That means a viewer in Vietnam who buys a number could face the penalties listed above, including administrative fines at the lower end and, at higher amounts, non-custodial reform or imprisonment1. The hosts face the more serious exposure, since police classify hosting the streams as organizing gambling under Article 3211.
The warning is specific to livestreams on platforms including YouTube and TikTok, and to pay-to-play games and prize draws on social media generally1. It does not address other forms of gambling in Vietnam. General guidance on how disguised betting works in apps and livestreams is set out in Hidden Gambling in Games, Apps and Livestreams: Disguised Betting and Who It Targets, and country-specific material is in Gambling Scams in Vietnam. Broader reporting routes are covered in Where to Report a Gambling Scam in Asia: Hotlines and Portals in 12 Jurisdictions, and steps after a loss are set out in Scammed by a Gambling Site? What to Do First: Bank, Evidence and Police Report. The legal position on licensed gambling in the country is covered in Can I Gamble in Vietnam?.
What happens next
Police encouraged the public to report livestreams or advertisements that promote disguised gambling schemes, saying timely reporting can help law enforcement crack down on them1. No arrests, charges or specific cases tied to the blind bag streams have been reported1.
Sources1 sources
- Police warn of disguised gambling in popular 'Blind Bag' games, vietnamnews.vn
