Deputy Prime Minister Lê Thành Long instructed the Ministry of Finance to study policy proposals for the Phú Quốc special zone, including post-pilot provisions on Vietnamese casino access, according to Việt Nam News1. The instruction was reported in August 2025, in an article about a draft decree on casino business that is open for public feedback1.
Under that draft, the ministry proposes allowing Vietnamese citizens into casinos if they buy an entry ticket priced at roughly two to 2.5 times the current rate: VNĐ2.5 million (US$95.32) per day or VNĐ50 million (US$1,906) per month1. Vietnamese nationals must be at least 21 years old, possess full legal capacity and comply with other casino regulations1. They may only use Vietnamese đồng to exchange for casino chips, which must be reconverted into đồng if unused1.
The ministry argues that current requirements for proving financial eligibility involve cumbersome paperwork, creating difficulties for players and operators, and that this discourages legitimate domestic players who often gamble abroad where procedures are simpler1. It views higher ticket prices as a way to assess financial ability while simplifying entry procedures1.
"For this reason, the ministry views higher ticket prices to assess financial ability while simplifying entry procedures"
Other provisions in the draft cover operators. Licensed casinos in the pilot must verify, review and keep player records for a minimum of five years, separately account for ticket revenue, report the number of Vietnamese entrants and deposit ticket sales into their State Treasury accounts1. Casino license applicants must be part of an integrated resort complex combining tourism, services and entertainment with minimum capital of $2 billion1. Operators must install around-the-clock surveillance cameras in all functional areas, including entrances, gaming floors, vaults, cashiers and money-handling zones, and retain footage for at least 180 days1. All players, Vietnamese and foreign, would be issued electronic ID cards containing personal details, access permissions and expiry dates1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Daily ticket for Vietnamese players | VNĐ2.5 million (US$95.32) |
| Monthly ticket for Vietnamese players | VNĐ50 million (US$1,906) |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Player record retention | Minimum of five years |
| Surveillance footage retention | At least 180 days |
| Minimum integrated resort capital | $2 billion |
Việt Nam has nine operational casino projects, six small-scale and three large1. The first casino to allow Vietnamese visitors was Corona Phú Quốc, developed by Phú Quốc Tourism Investment and Development JSC, inside a $2 billion resort complex with 1,470 gaming machines and 147 tables1. The Phú Quốc casino's pilot program runs until the end of 2024, the article states1.
What it means for players
For Vietnamese citizens, casino entry currently depends on the pilot arrangements described in the draft, and the proposed ticket prices are higher than the present rate1. The draft would replace paperwork proving financial eligibility with a ticket purchase, which the ministry says is simpler for players and operators1. Age and legal capacity conditions would still apply, and chips would have to be bought and cashed out in đồng1.
For foreigners, the draft's electronic ID card requirement would apply to all players, not only Vietnamese1. The article does not report any change to the entry rules that apply to foreign passport holders, and no fee for foreign entrants is mentioned1.
What happens next
The draft decree is open for public feedback1. The deputy prime minister's instruction covers study of policy proposals for developing the Phú Quốc special zone, including post-pilot provisions on Vietnamese casino access1. No date has been reported for a decision on the draft or on the Phú Quốc pilot's replacement.
