Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security said on June 25, 2026 that police and the banking industry had blocked thousands of bank accounts showing signs of violation and stopped illegal transactions worth thousands of billions of dong. The figure was given at a briefing in Hanoi on identifying gambling-related violations during the FIFA World Cup 2026, held by the ministry's office with its Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department1.
Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Manh Tung, deputy head of that department, said the account blocks came from three measures:
- matching bank account and account holder data against the National Population Data Centre to stop accounts being opened with fake documents or false information1
- building a database of accounts already used in illegal activity, including gambling and gambling organization, and requiring those holders to re-verify their identity1
- reviewing and halting transactions flagged as unusual, especially accounts linked to gambling1
He said the campaign is running nationwide and involves close coordination with international law enforcement agencies1. The announcement did not give a breakdown of how many accounts were blocked, how many transactions were stopped, or the exact total value involved; those details have not been reported1.
On the law, Tung said unauthorized betting on sports, including World Cup 2026 matches, is banned in all forms. Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, a person who places illegal bets can face an administrative penalty or prosecution for gambling under Article 321 of the 2015 Penal Code, as amended in 2017, with possible additional fines or restrictions on certain rights1. People who advertise, solicit, broker or provide the means for others to bet can face an administrative penalty or prosecution for organizing gambling or acting as a gambling broker under Article 322 of the same code1.
He said those who solicit players through online streams, inserted advertising or media promotion can be considered accomplices in organizing gambling or acting as a gambling broker, and that people who run unauthorized match streams can face criminal liability both for copyright violations and for organizing gambling or acting as a gambling broker1. He described two patterns found in illegal football broadcasts: commentators interacting with viewers to draw them into betting on different outcomes of a match, and repeated promotion of illegal gambling websites, apps and products, sometimes with commentators encouraging viewers to bet on their predictions1.
"chúng tôi khuyến cáo người dân không tham gia đặt cược dưới mọi hình thức, đặc biệt trong thời gian diễn ra World Cup 2026"
What it means for players
The practical effect falls on bank accounts. Vietnam's police and banks are cross-checking account holder details against national population data, so accounts opened with borrowed, fake or mismatched identity documents are exposed to being frozen or closed1. Accounts already flagged in police data are being re-verified, and unusual transaction patterns linked to betting are being stopped1.
For anyone in Vietnam, including locals, expats and visitors, the ministry's position is that all unauthorized sports betting is prohibited, with no exception carved out for World Cup 2026 matches1. Placing a bet can lead to an administrative penalty or a criminal charge under Article 321, and passing on tips, recruiting players, running a betting group or promoting a betting site can lead to charges under Article 3221. The ministry also said betting is structured to favor the bookmaker over time, through fees, commissions and how the operator runs the market, and that most participants lose money1.
The announcement did not say which banks were involved, which accounts were affected, how a holder would be notified, or how someone could challenge a block. Those points have not been reported1. For background on how frozen accounts and gambling payments work across the region, see Banks, E-Wallets and Frozen Accounts: Gambling Payment Laws in Asia and Gambling Payments in Asia: Cards, Bank Transfers, E-Wallets, Crypto, Blocks and Withdrawals. For the wider legal picture, see Gambling Laws in Asia: What Is Legal in 12 Jurisdictions and Can I Gamble in Vietnam?. Related questions are covered in Is It Illegal to Use Offshore Gambling Sites in Asia?, Blocked Gambling Sites and VPN Use: The Law in Asia and How Gambling Transactions Show on Bank and Card Statements.
What happens next
The ministry said enforcement, investigation and handling are being carried out nationwide and in coordination with international law enforcement agencies, and that any organizing of gambling or unauthorized betting can be detected and handled under Vietnamese law1. No dates, deadlines or further announcements were given1.
