HANOI?Vietnam is mulling opening up betting and gambling activities to its own citizens as the government strives to boost the tourism sector and prevent foreign-currency outflows caused by waves of Vietnamese going to gamble at casinos abroad.
Lawmakers met Wednesday to discuss draft regulations on betting and gambling activities and proposed a pilot project permitting local people who meet the income requirements and have a record of good conduct to enter casinos in the Van Don Economic Zone in the northern province of Quang Ninh, 160 kilometers east of Hanoi.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited the province Sunday to review the government?s plan to build a multibillion-dollar recreational project with casinos and betting facilities in the 1,800-hectare economic zone, which is located next to the country?s most famous tourist site, Halong Bay. The area attracted seven million tourists in 2012, 8.5% more than the year before.
Since 2003, Vietnam has allowed foreign investors to operate casinos, and the Ministry of Finance reports that there are about 50 across the country. Chinese and Taiwanese are regular players, though there are no estimates on the number of gamblers entering Vietnam each year.
The casinos are closed to Vietnamese citizens. The country?s traditional culture has games that involve betting?from cockfighting to water buffalo fighting to poker. However, the communist government has long worried about the social problems that could arise from gambling addiction.
A decree taking effect Oct. 1 lays out fines of up to 200 million dong ($9,500) for a casino operator allowing Vietnamese citizens to gamble on its premises and of 100 million dong for an individual violator.
But as Vietnam seeks to restrain local people from going to gamble in neighboring Cambodia, a popular destination, officials are proposing that limited access to local casinos and ?gaming with rewards??Vietnam?s euphemism for the gambling industry. Lawmakers meanwhile are discussing a draft decree to legalize betting on horse racing, dog racing and international football.
It is unclear when the National Assembly, the country?s highest law-making body, will approve the new rules. Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu said Vietnam must study casino-management experiences from other countries first.
Local media have reported that about 3,000 Vietnamese from Mekong Delta provinces of Dong Thap, Kien Giang, Long An and Tay Ninh in the south cross the border each day to patronize more than 30 casinos and dozens of cock-fighting rings in Cambodia. The number increases on weekends.
Under the decree taking effect Oct. 1, foreign investors seeking to operate a casino in Vietnam must invest in a recreational complex, which comprises trade centers, restaurants, entertainment services and hotels that are ranked five stars or above by local authorized agencies and report no financial losses the previous years.
Ho Tram Strip, which opened last month ?in Ba Ria ? Vung Tau province, 100 kilometers east of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). is the country?s biggest luxury recreational resort. Owned by Asian Coast Development (Canada) Limited, it?s worth $4.2 billion and projected to attract millions of visitors a year.