Vietnam’s business chamber pushes for higher betting limits
The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has urged the Ministry of Finance to raise the proposed daily betting limit on international football, horse racing, and greyhound racing to VND100 million ($3,800) per player. The figure is ten times higher than the VND10 million ($380) cap suggested by the ministry in its draft decree.
According to local media Tuoi Tre news, the ministry’s draft, which seeks to replace Decree 06 issued in 2017, would increase the current VND1 million ($38) limit to VND10 million per player per day. The draft aims to create a more viable legal framework for betting activities, which have remained largely inactive since the introduction of the 2017 regulation.
In its response, the VCCI proposed two alternatives: raising the ceiling to VND100 million or applying a VND10 million daily cap for each product type. The chamber said that the current limits remain too restrictive and fail to reflect Vietnam’s rising income levels and market realities.
The VCCI argued that illegal betting platforms continue to thrive because wagering caps do not bind them. The group said that this has diverted a large portion of betting activity to unregulated sites, leading to revenue loss for the state and weakening the regulatory framework.
Under the draft decree, individuals aged 21 and above would be allowed to participate, provided they register accounts with licensed operators. These accounts will handle all bets, payments, and prize distributions to ensure traceability. Betting will be limited to tournaments organised by FIFA or its member associations, excluding esports and domestic events.
The ministry said the VND10 million cap is designed to discourage excessive gambling while expanding the scope of legal betting. However, the VCCI and several industry observers maintain that a higher ceiling would make the legal market more competitive against unlicensed operators.
Push for more flexible advertising and promotion rules
Alongside higher betting limits, the VCCI has called for more flexible advertising and promotional regulations. It recommended allowing licensed betting companies to promote their services on digital platforms such as social media, search engines, and mobile applications.
The chamber stressed that these advertisements should remain subject to strict age verification, responsible gambling messages, and content controls.
Currently, the ministry’s draft restricts betting-related advertising to physical offices and official websites. Content is limited to basic company details, including name, address, logo, product name, authorised venues, and eligible participants.
The VCCI also suggested permitting controlled promotional activities, subject to approval by the Ministry of Finance. This, it said, would give licensed operators lawful means to attract customers while ensuring government oversight.
Proposal to adjust foreign ownership and tax contributions
In addition to advertising and betting limits, the VCCI has proposed raising the foreign ownership cap in betting ventures from 49 percent to 50 percent. It said that a balanced ownership ratio would make the market more attractive to international investors and foster partnerships with domestic firms.
The chamber also urged the government to revise the tax framework for betting operators. Under the current draft, betting companies are required to contribute 10 percent of ticket sales revenue to the state budget, on top of a 30 percent special consumption tax and 10 percent value-added tax.
VCCI recommended lowering the budget contribution to 5 percent during the pilot phase to help businesses stabilise operations and encourage long-term investment. The chamber argued that once the market matures, the government could gradually increase this rate.
Addressing illegal betting and boosting state revenue
The debate over betting limits follows ongoing concerns about illegal gambling operations in Vietnam. Despite Decree 06 legalising betting on international football and racing in 2017, the report said that the absence of practical implementation and low limits has left the legal sector stagnant.
Studies suggest that billions of US dollars are wagered through underground betting networks each year, with much of the money flowing overseas. Analysts believe that a more open and realistic regulatory approach could redirect this activity into the formal economy and increase government revenue.
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