Vietnam seeks changes in football betting regulations

The draft decree will replace Decree 06, issued eight years ago, whose provisions on international football betting have yet to be implemented in practice.

Under the proposal, the maximum betting limit per player is set at VND10 million (US$378.9) per day, compared to the previous cap of VND1 million ($37.9) per type of bet. The minimum wager remains at VND10,000 ($0.4).

The ministry noted that an international football match typically offers 10 to 15 betting options, including predicting scores, numbers of yellow or red cards, corner kicks, and goal scorers. The daily cap of VND10 million ($378.9), it argued, is meant to discourage excessive gambling.

Participants must be at least 21 years old and open accounts with licensed betting operators. All betting, payment, and prize distribution will be conducted through these accounts to ensure identification and control.

Bets will only be allowed on matches and tournaments organized by FIFA or its members, excluding e-sports football and Vietnam Football Federation events. This could open opportunities for betting on popular tournaments such as the World Cup, EURO, Copa America, Asian Cup, AFF Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.

Initially, only one company will be licensed to pilot international football betting for five years. To qualify, a firm must have charter capital of at least VND1 trillion ($37.9 million) and meet strict licensing procedures. 

The Politburo will select the investor under investment law, and the Ministry of Finance will issue the operating license.

Officials stressed that betting businesses can affect social security and public order if not tightly controlled. Only companies with significant capacity and strong commitments to supporting state oversight will be chosen for the pilot.

Low betting limits may fail to attract players: experts

A sports expert told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that expanding the list of eligible tournaments could unlock the market. Under Decree 06, only FIFA-organized events were permitted, such as the World Cup, which takes place every four years.

The expert said the most popular events for bettors are European leagues, including the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1, and the Champions League.

"The expansion is a major step forward. However, the maximum daily betting limit of VND10 million [$378.9] per person is too low. The minimum bet of VND10,000 [$0.4] is outdated and should be raised to between VND50,000 [$1.9] and VND100,000 [$3.8]," the expert suggested.

Professor Ha Ton Vinh, a betting specialist, added that the ministry should clarify its goals. If the aim is to create a state-controlled business and generate revenue, then betting limits should gradually increase.

With player identification and monitoring in place, concerns about gambling can be managed, Vinh argued. Otherwise, low limits will drive players to underground platforms, resulting in tax losses.

He also recommended inviting reputable international investors to participate, emphasizing the need for transparent regulations and a reasonable profit margin of around 15 to 20 percent.

A representative from a gaming company said low limits would fail to attract investors but noted that since betting is a regulated industry, it should prioritize state control rather than broad investment. 

The best option, the representative said, would be to appoint a state-owned enterprise to manage the five-year pilot.

Billions of U.S. dollars flow abroad annually through illegal football betting

Decree 06 on betting in horse racing, greyhound racing, and international football was enacted in 2017 after nearly two decades of preparation. Yet implementation of football betting has stalled.

A 2007 survey by UK betting company Ladbrokes estimated illegal betting revenue in Vietnam at $3–4 billion in September that year. 

Singapore Pools reported that about $200 million flowed out of Vietnam through Macau and Hong Kong in 2007.

At a 2020 seminar on sports betting management, experts estimated that Vietnam's football betting market was worth $10–12 billion annually, much of it flowing overseas.

Legalizing international football betting is expected to reduce this illicit outflow. 

Experts said restrictions under Decree 06, including a limited list of eligible matches and low daily betting limits, have made the legal system unworkable.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism once listed 24 eligible tournaments, including FIFA World Cups, youth tournaments, the Club World Cup, and friendlies between national teams. But major European leagues, which dominate betting activity, were excluded, leaving little incentive for legal betting operators or players.