gamble – Duane Morris Vietnam

January 16, 2017 by Dr. Oliver Massmann

VIETNAM CASINO GAMBLING LATEST NEWS – VIETNAMESE ALLOWED TO GAMBLE:

The Ministry of Finance in Hanoi (MOF) just revealed some proposed contents of the long-waiting casino business decree (Casino Decree).

Only 02 casinos are open to Vietnamese individuals on a 3-year piloting scheme, which are located within complex resorts in Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang Province (South Vietnam) and Van Don District, Quang Ninh Province (North Vietnam).

Local players are permitted to enter casinos if they essentially satisfy 04 following conditions:

21 years old or above;
Monthly salary of VND10 million or more (equivalent to approximately US$440);
Entrance fee is VND1 million (US$44)/24 hours/a person;
Not objected in writing by siblings, spouses and/or biological and adopted parents to play at casinos.

Investors or management companies must have at least 5 years of experience.

Minimum investment capital is US$4 billion (it is also rumored that this amount can be reduced to US$2 billion. No license is issued unless the investor has already injected 50% of the committed investment capital).

Only one casino for one project.

Depending on committed investment capital, the number of gaming machines and tables can be different.

For any casino projects licensed AFTER the issuance of the Casino Decree, for each US$10 million investment capital lot, enterprises are granted with a table and 10 gaming machines. For projects licensed BEFOREHAND, the number of gaming machines and casinos are subject to contents of their already issued investment certificates.

No specific timeline on when the Casino Decree will be issued.

We will keep updating you on latest developments!

If you have any question on the above, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Oliver Massmann under omassmann@duanemorris.com, Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.

Thank you very much!

December 15, 2016 by Dr. Oliver Massmann

VIETNAM – CASINO AND GAMING – BREAKING NEWS – VIETNAMESE MAY GAMBLE !

The final draft of the casino decree (‘Casino Decree’) has been passed by the Ministry of Justice and Government’s Office. It is now on the table of the Politburo and Prime Minister for their comments, which are as always, the most important. It is expected that the Casino Decree will be issued during Christmas 2016 or early 2017.

For many reasons, the text of the Casino Decree has not been made public. The Ministry of Finance has been successful in keeping the draft Casino Decree under secrecy. Again, whether Vietnamese residents are permitted to enter casinos in Vietnam is a big question that may wait for decision of the highest level of Vietnam’s political system.

The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has proposed a draft decree that lists casino as a conditional business which is subject to license of the MPS with respect to social orders. A very interesting point is that the draft decree only prohibits Vietnamese from playing on gaming machines. It is important to note that no such prohibition is mentioned with respect to Vietnamese’s playing in casinos. This may give a hint that Vietnamese may enter casinos if they are ‘permitted’. This fact corresponds to provisions of the new Penal Code that makes it very clear that only ‘illegal’ gambling is punished.

So, though not 100% sure, more likely that Vietnamese may enter casinos and gamble but with specific conditions in 2017.

At present, pending the issuance of the Casino Decree, all projects on casino are put on hold. we will follow up and keep you updated.

Please do not hesitate to contact Oliver Massmann under omassmann@duanemorris.com if you have any questions or want to know more details on the above. Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.

THANK YOU!

Oliver Massmann

December 8, 2015 by Dr. Oliver Massmann

Lawyer in Vietnam Oliver Massmann Latest Draft Decree on Casino Business allows Vietnamese citizens to gamble in Vietnam

According to public media, a new version of the draft decree on casino (the Casino Draft) has been internally circulated to interested parties including senior experts/consultants and other State bodies of Vietnam. While full text of the draft is not made public, local newspapers give us some hints about how the Casino Draft would be shaped. For example, it is more likely that Vietnamese citizens of 21 years old or more who are able to show evidence on their ‘financial capacity’ and afford the entrance fee may gamble at casinos. Detailed conditions are still on their way.
One more notable change is that registered total investment capital would be reduced from $4 billion to $2 billion. Please be noted that the above threshold include both borrowings and equity though it is still unclear about the minimum equity that the investor must contribute.
For now, Vietnam has 04 areas which are planned to aim at entertainment complexes that have casinos inside, which are Van Don (Quang Ninh Province), Hoi An (Quang Nam Province), Ho Tram (Vung Tau Province) and Phu Quoc (Kien Giang Province). So far, only Ho Tram Project came into operations while other are still in the process of infrastructure development. However we understand that the above list is not closed. This means that investors may actively propose new areas for the Government’s consideration.
It is expected that the Casino Draft will be officially issued in March 2016 following the Communist Party’s Congress.

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Please do not hesitate to contact Oliver Massmann under omassmann@duanemorris.com if you have any questions or want to know more details on the above. Oliver Massmann is the General Director of Duane Morris Vietnam LLC.