The investigation agency of Ho Chi Minh City Police issued prosecution decisions and detention orders for 35 suspects on charges of organizing gambling and gambling, the Ministry of Public Security said on August 1, 20261. The decisions and orders were approved by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Procuracy1. Police said the total amount used for gambling exceeded VND500 billion, which Vietnam News put at about US$19 million1.
The ring ran on Bong88.com and took bets on matches in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and other international football tournaments, according to the investigation1. Bets were placed as points converted into Vietnamese dong at a rate the participants agreed, with each point worth VND10,000 to VND50,000 depending on the management level1. Wins and losses were tallied and settled weekly on Mondays by bank transfer, cash handover or other payment methods1. Police said the operation ran from around April 2026 until it was broken up1.
Police described a four-tier structure: Super, Master, Agent and Member1. The Super held the overall points limit and ran four Master accounts, held by Le Thanh Hieu (born 1989), Nguyen Van Thom (born 1978), Nguyen Tan Duc (born 1994) and Huynh Minh Toan (born 1987)1. The Masters allocated points limits to Agents, monitored betting and settled results with them1. Four Agents were named as Nguyen Dinh Cong (born 1987), Huynh Van Thanh (born 1987), Vuong Trung Duong (born 1992) and Nguyen Tri Thong (born 1982), and they issued Member accounts to players who bet on the system1. The 35 suspects include the four Masters and four Agents1.
"Cơ quan Cảnh sát điều tra Công an TP. Hồ Chí Minh đã ra Quyết định khởi tố vụ án, khởi tố, ra Lệnh bắt bị can để tạm giam 35 bị can"
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Suspects prosecuted and detained | 35, including 4 Masters and 4 Agents1 |
| Charges | Organizing gambling; gambling1 |
| Platform | Bong88.com1 |
| Events bet on | FIFA World Cup 2026 and other international football1 |
| Amount used for gambling | More than VND500 billion (about US$19 million)1 |
| Point value | VND10,000 to VND50,000 per point1 |
| Settlement | Weekly on Mondays1 |
| Period | From around April 2026 to the breakup1 |
What it means for players
Vietnam prohibits gambling outside state-licensed outlets, and the charges here cover both running the operation and taking part in it1. The case shows that accounts handed down through a Super, Master, Agent and Member chain are treated as part of one organized ring, and that police traced the structure from the top down rather than only pursuing the people placing bets1. The amounts recorded were reconstructed from the system's own points and settlement records, which the investigation used to establish the VND500 billion figure1. How individual Member-level players in this ring will be handled has not been reported1. The general position for players in the country is set out in our guide to gambling in Vietnam, and comparable arrests across the region are collected in our page on enforcement against online gambling players. The legal framework for players in the wider region is covered in Online Gambling in Asia.
What happens next
Police said they are continuing to expand the investigation and are tracing the person who held the Super role, along with other related individuals1. No date has been given for the conclusion of the investigation or for any trial1.
