Vietnam to Allow Locals to Gamble in Casinos for Three-Year Trial

The Vietnamese administration has given the go-ahead for a new three-year trial scheme that will permit Vietnamese residents to wager at authorized brick-and-mortar gambling venues. The program will commence on March 15th and will be accessible to individuals aged 21 and above who earn a minimum of 10 million Vietnamese dong monthly. Casinos hoping to participate in the trial must be part of entertainment and hotel complex ventures with a minimum investment capital of $2 billion, half of which must have been paid. They must also fulfill various other criteria. After three years, the government will assess the program and determine whether to continue it. At present, only a handful of casinos operate in Vietnam, and these are exclusively open to foreigners.