Police in the central Vietnamese province of Quảng Trị have prosecuted 16 people over an online gambling operation run alongside an illegal sports streaming service, the Ministry of Public Security said on 4 August 2026. The case covers the OK9, Lương Sơn TV system and related activity in Quảng Trị and other provinces and cities1.
The investigation found the group operated under the name Lương Sơn TV, led in Vietnam by a person using the alias FDR OBANK, and worked in a closed loop with the online bookmaker OK9. It used specialist equipment to capture OTT or satellite broadcast signals from sports events whose rights belonged to television stations and rights holders, then streamed them free on Lương Sơn TV websites under multiple domain names. During broadcasts, commentators and customer service staff promoted and guided viewers to register accounts, deposit money and bet on OK9 through links pinned on the website or shared on social media and messaging apps1.
"Thủ đoạn của các đối tượng là sử dụng hệ thống phát sóng trực tiếp trái phép các trận bóng đá, sự kiện thể thao có bản quyền để thu hút người xem, sau đó điều hướng, lôi kéo tham gia cá cược trên nền tảng đánh bạc trực tuyến"
On 6 July 2026 the case board deployed six task force teams across several localities and summoned and worked with those involved, establishing the method and scale of the operation1. The group had previously been based in the Krong Bavet area of Cambodia and moved its operations into Vietnam from the start of 2026. Members worked online from many localities, used aliases on encrypted apps, combined VPNs with overseas servers and changed domain names repeatedly. Salaries were paid in the digital currency USDT through e-wallets, while payments went through bank accounts not held in the users' own names1.
By the time it was uncovered, the OK9, Lương Sơn TV system had tens of thousands of active player accounts, with total transactions from gambling and illegal rebroadcasting estimated at more than 1.500 tỷ đồng per month1. Investigators also said the capture and rebroadcast of copyrighted sports programming showed signs of copyright and related rights infringement under Article 225 of the Penal Code1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Prosecuted | 16 defendants |
| Charges | Organising gambling and gambling |
| Task force teams deployed | 6, on 6 July 2026 |
| Active player accounts | Tens of thousands |
| Estimated monthly transactions | More than 1.500 tỷ đồng |
| Prior base | Krong Bavet, Cambodia |
| Moved to Vietnam | From the start of 2026 |
The Investigation Police Agency of Quảng Trị Provincial Police prosecuted the case and 16 defendants on charges of organizing gambling and gambling under the Penal Code. FDR OBANK was identified as a senior manager who directly ran the group's operations in Vietnam1.
What it means for players
Vietnam does not permit online betting on football through offshore sites, and the case shows how such operations are built: a free illegal stream draws viewers in, then pushes them to a betting platform. Anyone using an OK9 account linked to this network is dealing with an operator that police say ran on overseas servers, rotating domains, encrypted messaging and bank accounts not registered to their owners. Those payment methods leave little recourse if funds are lost, and the accounts themselves are part of an active criminal case. The same pattern, illegal streams used to funnel viewers to a betting site, appears in other markets covered in the guide to gambling scams and safety in Asia. For the legal position in the country, see Can I Gamble in Vietnam?, and for the cross-border angle, Can I Gamble in Cambodia?.
What happens next
The case is under further investigation to establish the roles of those involved, police said1. No trial date or additional charges have been reported.
