Vietnam Imposes Illegal Gambling Law

Posted 21 January 2009 in Latest News

Twenty Vietnamese and Four Other Foreign Nationals Accused of Illegal Gambling in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Because of the Vietnamese law declaring gambling as illegal, the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court tried 24 people last Wednesday with regard to illegal gambling. Among these 24 people are 20 Vietnamese nationals, 3 Malaysians, and an American citizen, the last being acquitted after spending six months inside the jail while awaiting trial.

Among the 24 people tried, six of them were accused of conspiring to lure Vietnamese citizens into gambling in casinos found in three prominent establishments, all of which were the property of Yap Kim San, a Malaysian businessman. The other 18 defendants were charged with making illegal wagers.

Playing in casinos is strictly prohibited in Vietnam. However, four-star hotels and above are allowed to offer online casino and live casino games to foreigners.