Vietnam’s government is reassessing how legal betting functions, placing regulatory control and traceability at the center of a proposed update to existing rules. A draft decree now before the government outlines stricter requirements for bettors, keeps financial limits intact, and adjusts the scope of permitted football competitions while maintaining tight oversight of market entry.
The proposal is designed to replace Decree 06 from 2017, which currently regulates betting on horse racing, dog racing, and international football. Authorities developed the draft after inter-agency consultations and public feedback. The government accepted the draft in principle, with the Ministry of Finance submitting it without altering the current daily betting ceiling.
Identity Disclosure As A Regulatory Foundation
One of the most notable shifts in the draft decree is the emphasis on bettor identification. The Ministry of Justice called for clearer standards on the personal information required when individuals register for licensed betting services. Under the proposal, participants must provide their full name, nationality, occupation, phone number, address, and place of residence before placing bets.
The justice ministry linked the requirement directly to compliance with the 2022 Law on Anti-Money Laundering. The Ministry of Finance later confirmed that it agreed with the recommendation and revised the draft to make full identity disclosure mandatory across regulated betting platforms.
A policy overview described the direction of reform by stating, “The face of gambling in Vietnam is set to undergo a major transformation as the government embarks on ensuring that those placing bets do so under strict regulation.” Once enacted, the rules would eliminate anonymous participation and give authorities clearer visibility into betting activity and related financial flows.
Financial Limits Remain Unchanged
While ministries aligned on identity controls, discussions around betting limits produced a different outcome. The Ministry of Science and Technology proposed raising the daily betting cap to VND100 million, or about $3,800, per person. Another option suggested applying a VND10 million limit to each betting product instead of a single daily total.
Supporters argued that higher limits could strengthen licensed operators’ ability to compete with illegal betting by appealing to higher-value customers. They also cited identification requirements and cash-flow monitoring as tools to manage risk.
The Ministry of Finance rejected both options. Officials maintained that regulated betting serves recreational demand and should not promote large-scale wagering. Referencing Vietnam’s average annual income of roughly $5,000 per capita, the ministry kept the existing limit of VND10 million, or about $380, per person per day at a single licensed operator, stating that the cap helps safeguard public order and social stability.
Expanded Football Eligibility Under Pilot Scheme
The draft also broadens the list of football competitions eligible for legal betting. In addition to FIFA tournaments, the revised text includes major competitions organized by UEFA, AFC, CONMEBOL, and CONCACAF. National leagues and cups from countries ranked in FIFA’s top 10 as of the previous December would also qualify.
International football betting would still operate under a pilot program limited to three licensed companies, with operator selection placed under the prime minister’s authority due to public order and money-laundering concerns.
Source:
“Vietnam Proposes Mandatory Identity Disclosure for Football Bettors“, news.worldcasinodirectory.com, December 26, 2025
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