Vietnam, Laos police bust $50mn cross-border online gambling ring

The ministry’s Criminal Police Department had initiated legal proceedings against 31 suspects—27 for organizing gambling and four for gambling—linked to the network allegedly led by Mai Anh Viet, a 44-year-old resident of Hanoi’s Dong Da District.

Investigators revealed that since 2023, Viet colluded with 43-year-old Nguyen Huu Son from Ho Chi Minh City to partner with an overseas company supplying online gambling websites and services.

Viet recruited Vietnamese nationals to travel to Laos, where trusted associates managed multiple websites, with their gambling operation running around the clock in shifts.

To expand the network, Viet also hired others in Vietnam to promote and livestream gambling activities through social media platforms.

They calculated winnings and losses on a weekly basis, settling payments with international bookmakers and the web service providers.

The ring masterminds paid regular salaries to their team and divided illicit profits.

Authorities estimated that in just the first five months of 2025, the network facilitated gambling for thousands of users, generating nearly $50 million.

Ringleaders personally pocketed hundreds of millions to several billions of dongs each.

Police raided the group’s headquarters in Vientiane, Laos, seizing 35 mobile phones, 12 desktop computers, and 25 laptops.

Given intelligence shared by Laos’ Ministry of Public Security, Vietnamese police simultaneously launched raids across various provinces and cities including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Ninh Thuan, Dong Nai, and Phu Yen, detaining 10 suspects and confiscating 10 more mobile phones, one desktop computer, and livestreaming equipment.

On May 19, 29 Vietnamese nationals, including one 15-year-old, along with related materials and equipment, were handed over to Vietnam’s Criminal Police Department for further investigation and prosecution.

Authorities are continuing to expand the probe and pursue additional suspects.