Is online gambling legal in Vietnam?
Online casino, sports betting and poker are illegal in Vietnam. The only legal online gambling is buying lottery tickets through the official channels of the state-run Vietnam Lottery Company (Vietlott), and any other website or app offering sports betting or casino games is illegal. The Ministry of Public Security actively blocks these sites, and using a VPN to get around those blocks is a crime.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Vietnam is available on request. Request it
| Product | Online |
|---|---|
| Online betting | Illegal |
| Online casino | Illegal |
| Online poker | Illegal |
| Lottery | Partial |
Gambling in Vietnam: what you need to know
Withholding of 10% applies to lottery and prize winnings above VND 10 million. If a licensed operator does not resolve a complaint, you can escalate it to the Ministry of Finance.
What's legal online in Vietnam
Only what is listed as legal above is licensed. Anything else offered to you online is unlicensed and gives you no protection.
Online sports betting is banned in Vietnam. Online casino is banned in Vietnam. Online poker is banned in Vietnam. The lottery is only partly legal in Vietnam (partial).
Using a VPN to reach gambling sites from Vietnam: Legal.
Gambling with crypto: Banned.
Minimum age: 21
You must be 21 to gamble online in Vietnam, for online casino, sports betting and lottery alike.
Tax on winnings: 10%
Withholding 10% on lottery and prize winnings above VND 10 million per ticket. Casino winnings of foreigners are not generally taxed at source.
How to check a site is licensed in Vietnam
There are approximately 9 licensed operators in Vietnam as of 18 Jun 2026.
Always verify a casino holds a valid Ministry of Finance (Bộ Tài chính) licence before depositing.
Ministry of Finance (Bộ Tài chính)'s website
Prominent operators in Vietnam
If a site isn't on the regulator's licensee register, ask the regulator before you play: an unlisted site is usually not licensed here (a register can lag behind a new licence). An unlicensed site is outside the regulator's supervision, so you cannot complain to the regulator about it.
Red flags: how to spot an unlicensed site
- Only Gamble at Approved, Physical Locations
Legal casino gambling is only available at a small number of large, licensed integrated resorts. For locals, access is restricted to specific casinos like Corona Resort (Phú Quốc) and requires meeting strict income criteria.
- Only Use the Official Vietlott Website or App
The only legal online gambling is purchasing lottery tickets through the official channels of the state-run Vietnam Lottery Company (Vietlott). Any other website or app offering sports betting or casino games is illegal.
- Refuse to Pay in Foreign Currency or Crypto
All legal gambling transactions within Vietnam must be conducted in Vietnamese Đồng (VND). Any operator demanding payment in cryptocurrencies or foreign currencies (for locals) is operating illegally.
- Expect to Provide Official ID and Proof of Income
To enter a casino under the local-play pilot, you must be 21+ and provide official government ID and documents proving a monthly income of over VND 10 million. Any casino not enforcing these rules is not compliant.
Bonuses: what's allowed and red flags
What the rules mean for bonus offers you see in Vietnam. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.
- Welcome bonus
- Banned
- • Online casino-style games
- • Online card-based games
Under Decree 147/2024/ND-CP, online casino-style and card-based games are explicitly prohibited, so any associated bonuses or retention tools are illegal. The legal sports betting pilot is limited to horse racing, greyhound racing, and specific international football matches.
Self-exclusion and problem-gambling help in Vietnam
We have no record of a national self-exclusion scheme or problem-gambling helpline in Vietnam. The law does not require licensed sites to offer deposit limits. Reality checks (reminders of how long you have played) are not required.
Complaints and disputes in Vietnam
- 1
1. Direct Complaint to the Operator
The first step for any dispute is to file a formal complaint directly with the management of the licensed establishment (e.g., the casino or Vietlott). The operator is required to have internal procedures to handle customer grievances.
- 2
2. Report to the Ministry of Finance
If the operator fails to resolve the issue, a player can escalate the complaint to the Ministry of Finance, the primary regulator. This should be a formal written complaint detailing the issue and the operator's response.
- 3
3. Legal Action
For significant financial disputes, the final recourse is to file a civil lawsuit in a Vietnamese court. For issues involving illegal gambling, players may also report the activity to the police, though this may also expose the player to legal risk.
Common myths about gambling in Vietnam
- MythIt's safe to play on foreign betting sites using a VPN.Reality
This is illegal. While VPN use itself isn't banned, using it to circumvent blocks on illegal gambling sites is a crime. The Ministry of Public Security actively blocks these sites and prosecutes individuals involved in large-scale online gambling.
- MythCasino winnings for locals are tax-free.Reality
False. All gambling and lottery winnings over VND 10 million are subject to a 10% personal income tax, which is typically withheld by the paying operator.
- MythSmall, private bets on football with friends are legal.Reality
Technically, all forms of gambling not explicitly licensed are illegal, regardless of the stakes. While small, private games are rarely prosecuted, they are not legal, and participating in or organizing larger-scale betting pools carries significant legal risk.
Frequently asked questions about gambling in Vietnam
Are gambling winnings taxed in Vietnam?
Yes. A 10% personal income tax is applied to any lottery prize or other gambling winnings exceeding VND 10 million per prize. This tax is typically withheld by the licensed operator before payout.
Can Vietnamese citizens gamble in casinos?
Yes, but only at specific casinos under a time-limited pilot program. Qualified citizens (age 21+ with a monthly income over VND 10 million) can enter designated venues like Corona Resort (Phú Quốc) and The Grand Ho Tram. This program is an experiment and its long-term future is not guaranteed.
Is it legal to use a VPN for online gambling in Vietnam?
No. While VPN technology itself is legal, using it to access illegal online gambling websites is a prohibited activity. The government actively blocks offshore gambling sites, and players can face penalties for participating in illegal gambling.
Is gambling with cryptocurrency legal in Vietnam?
No. Cryptocurrencies are not recognized as legal tender in Vietnam. Their use for any gambling activities is strictly illegal and subject to prosecution.
What Vietnam bets on most
Football is Vietnam's most popular sport and drives a large illegal betting market on international leagues like the English Premier League. The state-run Vietlott is the largest and only widely accessible legal gambling product in the country.
Source: Gambling in Vietnam - Wikipedia
Biggest wins in Vietnam
A man from Ho Chi Minh City won the largest lottery jackpot in Vietnam's history. He won the Jackpot 1 prize in Vietlott's Power 6/55 lottery game.
Sources: VietNamNet · Tuoi Tre News
A Vietnamese-American man won a US$55.5 million jackpot on a slot machine at the Palazzo Club in the Sheraton Saigon hotel. The casino initially refused to pay, but a Ho Chi Minh City court later ruled in the player's favor in 2013.
Sources: South China Morning Post · VOV
Methodology & sources
This page is a Quick AI overview: a summary of public information, not yet checked against the law or the regulator. Treat it as a starting point. It has not yet been through our Deep AI Scan.