Latest Casino and Gambling News, Casino News, Casino openings, Casino closures, Vietnam 1 The only casino in Vietnam that permits locals to gamble alongside foreign tourists has reportedly partially re-opened after being temporarily shuttered on March 31 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Opened in 1959, the Club Vegas casino is one of the oldest ones in Vietnam. Having a minimum bet option of 0.05 USD and sporting more than 10 table games, this casino proves to be a jewel for gamblers. Gambling facilities include Electronic casinos and roulette tables, slot machines, poker are other basic games.

In general, gambling is illegal in Vietnam. However, some forms of betting in Vietnam are allowed. This includes lotteries, horse racing, greyhound racing, and international football. The country has more than 30 land-based casinos but the entrance to these is limited to foreign passport holders.

In the past, gambling in Vietnam wasn't much of a tourist draw, and there weren't many casinos to choose from anyhow. However, things are always changing here, and that includes Vietnam gambling. Interestingly enough, casinos are only open to foreigners, as gambling is banned as far as Vietnamese citizens are concerned. Though the Vietnam casinos market is relatively undeveloped, the fact that the socialist government is relaxing its hold on the general economy means that new casinos are springing up on the horizon. Legalizing certain forms of gambling in Vietnam would certainly lead to an increase of funds on the gambling front. Many believe this is in the best interest of the government, which would profit in its own right. However, gambling always has its detractors, and since all gambling in Vietnam was forbidden prior to 2003, one should expect a certain amount of lassitude when it comes to allowing more of it.

One of the top spots for enjoying some Vietnam gambling is the Royal International Gaming Club. If you want to enjoy one of the best northern Vietnamese beaches while doing a bit of gambling, then this casino at Bai Chay Beach is a good choice. The Royal International Gaming Club offers hotel and villa accommodations, restaurants, an array of facilities, and one of the bigger Vietnam casinos. The casino has eighteen tables for card games like baccarat and blackjack, and there are 70 slot machines to enjoy. The Royal International Gaming Club is open 24 hours a day, so you can fit in some gaming action around the clock. Should you stay in one of the villas or hotel rooms here, you will enjoy amenities and luxury throughout. The views of Ha Long Bay from the rooms here are utterly impressive, which is certainly an added bonus.

North of Hanoi, in the Sapa region of the country, the Lao Cai International Hotel offers the Lao Cai International Casino. You'll find gaming tables here as well, not to mention slot machines, and the casino is open seven days a week and 24 hours a day. For those coming into Vietnam from China, this is an excellent hotel and casino operation to consider, as the accommodations here are quite luxurious. Also, the hotel has tourism services that can help you arrange interesting tours in the area. The two other Vietnam casinos that are currently open to foreign visitors present an experience much like the two discussed here. For those who want more of a Las Vegas experience, the new Vietnam Casino City operation in the Vung Tau province aims to deliver with plenty of glitz and glamor.

There was already an existing beach resort area in Vung Tau, and with the development of the new one comes five new casinos, not to mention a Greg Norman-designed golf course, an entertainment district, museums, a cultural center, and more. At the cost of around four billion dollars, you can bet that it's pretty spectacular. Phase one alone introduces a Vegas-style casino, a huge swimming pool, the golf course, a country club, and no less than ten restaurants! Only a two hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, the new Vietnam Casino City offers an enjoyable side trip option for those visiting the country's largest metropolis. Gambling in Vietnam is becoming more popular, as is the Vietnam tourism industry on a whole, and with new gaming complexes like the Vietnam Casino City, enjoying a bit of gaming action on the side is just one more thing to add to your Vietnam travel itinerary.

Although gambling in Vietnam is basically off-limits for Vietnamese citizens, some still enjoy gambling. Illegal betting shops and semi-illegal betting shops are quite abundant, and cock fights are relatively common across the country. It's not encouraged that you partake in any of these kinds of gambling. Instead, it's better to stick to a legitimate casino in Vietnam.

Casino in Vietnam – Things everyone needs to know

The government has not made any development regarding the legalization of casinos in Vietnam for a long time, but it is finally clear for locals and foreigners to gamble without crossing the border.

The brilliant eventual fate of casino in Vietnam

The declaration was at long last issued in January 2017, after a decade of waiting, individuals with foreign passports and Vietnamese who can prove a minimum income of 10 million Vietnam Dong (US$440) per month are now eligible to gamble in Vietnam’s casinos and e-gaming clubs.

With this incredible news, investors in Vietnam are moving full steam forward. Before the decree was issued, several large-scale projects were already under construction. With a casino and 541 rooms, the Grand Ho Tram Strip opened its doors in July 2013. And in the middle of 2017, a second tower called The Beach Club was under construction adding 559 rooms, 164 condominiums, 8 penthouses with an expansion plan for the already enormous casino. Developers had already deployed more than US$ 1.1 billion in the project as of June 2017.

Other major developments in the work include the $4 billion Hoiana in Quang Nam Province, formerly known as Nam Hoi An Casino Resort, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2019. The first phase of the project will include a casino resort with 200 suites, a Rosewood spa resort comprising 75 villas and 25 premier residences, and a Robert Trent Jones II golf course. The project will continue to be developed over the next 10-15 years to expand more rooms, lifestyle and residential zones, convention center and other facilities.

Despite the above mentioned mega projects, Vietnam still ranks low in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) when comparing with other Asian countries that have gambling legislation. Only US$ 62.3 million in gross gaming revenue was posted in 2014, according to the last government report for which full figures are available.

Compared to GGR worldwide that topped US$450 billion in 2014, with the current 35% casino tax, the analysts have projected Vietnam’s gross gaming revenues to reach US$3 billion to US$6 billion per year when the market can fully operate.

Licensed gambling clubs

There are currently 23 clubs in Vietnam for electronic gaming. Although licensed casinos can offer real casino table games such as baccarat, blackjack, roulette, craps, pai gow, as well as slots and other electronic games, licensed gambling clubs are limited to electronic or mechanical games that do not require a live dealer.

About half of the clubs are located in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Hanoi – the capital city, housing another half dozen. Some clubs are right in the hotel lobby, and others are on the floor that also includes bars, lounges, private karaoke suites … to become a full-fledged “entertainment center”.

According to a spokesperson of Caravelle Saigon: “We offer the latest slots and international gaming tables with electronic roulette, baccarat, and blackjack for high rollers and those who just want to try their luck.”

The other gaming clubs are scattered along the coast between the two major cities. All e-gaming clubs are required to operate from 5-star hotels and have become exquisite services in big cities, with the highest rated club (named Vegas Club) at Caravelle Saigon, Ho Chi Minh city.

Licensed casinos

Vietnam Casino Danang

The seven licensed casinos (for now) are located throughout the country.

Northern Vietnam:

– Aristo International Hotel & Casino in Lao Cai.

– Royal International Gaming Club in Ha Long Bay

– Doson Casino Resort in Hai Phong.

– Phoenix International Club in Bac Ninh.

Central Vietnam:

– Crown International Club next to the Crowne Plaza in Danang.

– Nam Hoi An Casino Resort (Hoiana) in Hoi An.

Southern Vietnam:

– Ho Tram Resort Casino in Vung Tau.

All of these casinos feature live dealers, offering traditional and regional table games, slots and other electronic gaming devices … Other services including free drinks, fine dining and upscale accommodations with all the amenities you would expect from a 5-star resort.

Currently, the Grand Ho Tram on the beach near Vung Tau is Vietnam’s largest casino, with 100,000 square feet of gambling space in the 5-star resort that includes a fitness center, spa and sauna area, several fine dining venues, and a nightclub among other upscale amenities.

We are also expecting the opening of Aristo International Hotel & Casino (formerly known as Lao Cai International) on the border with Yunnan Province, China by Donaco International Limited.

Crown International Games Club at Danang (formerly known as Silver Shores Casino) is a privately-owned beachfront casino that has also emerged as one of the most popular sites for the wealthy individuals.

Owned by Chinese company Hui Kong, it is estimated that this location’s turnover has increased over the past year to $3 billion a month, roughly double that of the highly successful Solaire in the Philippines, Genting Highlands in Malaysia, or NagaWorld in Cambodia – all casinos with much larger footprints and more experience than the Danang counterpart.

With the current momentum, Crown complex plans to further expand as part of a $600 million plan, which includes a JW Marriott-branded hotel, a duty-free shopping mall, and a much expected casino expansion.

The Aristo International Hotel & Casino in Lao Cai, is located in the far Northeastern area, near the border of China’s Yunnan province, and serves mostly Chinese customers.

Vietnamese Gambling Game

Donaco International, who owns and operates the casino also announced plans to rebuild a small airport there in order to increase tourism and develop the mountainous area into more of a tourist hub.

Casino in Vietnam – The Summary

Unlike most countries trying to get a piece of the gambling’s enormous revenue, Vietnam is in an early stage of growth as the government struggles with moral issues and the desire to generate tax revenues, plus the temptation to grow their potential service economies.

But one of the biggest encouragement comes from “the bleeding financial situation”: Vietnamese and foreign citizens taking their gambling over the border, which pushed many gambling articles and decree to take effect.

If you plan a trip to Vietnam, do not forget to check their casinos and gaming clubs or you will regret it later. Luxurious accommodations, VIP treatment and Vietnamese hospitality are prevalent everywhere, everything that you can expect to find in Macau or Las Vegas with a much affordable price.

Let’s come and experience yourself.