Vietnam football betting to get a leg up with amended law, decree
Recent Bidding Law amendments and a decree that guides their implementation are likely to boost the football betting business in Vietnam, says a new government report.
The report on the new legal framework, set to be submitted to the National Assembly session next Monday by Finance Minister Ho Duc Phoc, recognizes that betting on football, horse racing and greyhound racing, gambling at casinos or playing electronic games for prize money are an inevitable development trend in the entertainment industry.
This can be tapped to bring billions of U.S. dollars to the state budget each year, it adds.

The recent adoption of the amended Bidding Law and a draft decree on bidding procedures for betting business investments have raised expectations that football betting will get a boost in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of FIFA.
However, since it is a field that affects social security, it requires strict control by relevant agencies, the report says.
It notes that one form of gambling, lottery, has been permitted in Vietnam since 1962, bringing in large annual budget revenues.
Currently, the country has 63 lottery companies in as many provinces and cities engaging in traditional lottery business and one offering computerized lottery service - Vietnam Computerized Lottery One Member Limited Liability Company, or Vietlott.
In 2023, this activity netted revenues of VND153 trillion ($6.2 billion), up 11% year-on-year; and contributed VND45 trillion ($1.82 billion) to the budget.
At present, Vietnamese citizens are banned from playing prize-winning electronic games, which are only allowed at 5-star hotels with qualified facilities. The business must have a minimum charter capital of VND500 billion ($20.26 million) and effective business operations to provide this service.
Nearly 70 establishments have engaged in the business across the country, contributing nearly VND2.2 trillion ($89.16 million) to the state budget in 2023, up 26.5% year-on-year.
Since Decree No. 03 was issued in 2017, the casino sector has seen nine active projects - six small- and three large-scale. In 2023, they paid VND2.54 trillion ($102.94 million) to the state budget, up 56% year-on-year and 1.8 times the pre-pandemic level, while creating 8,500 jobs.
Vietnam has piloted allowing Vietnamese people to play casino games on Phu Quoc island in Kien Giang province and Van Don casino in Quang Ninh province. Ticket revenues in the 2019-2023 period totalled VND242 billion ($9.8 million).
However, no significant progress has been seen in the business of betting on horse racing, greyhound racing and international football since Decree No. 06 was issued in 2017.
Decree 06 allows betting on horse racing, greyhound racing and international football but prohibits online betting. It also sets out conditions for granting betting investment and business licenses.
Specifically, businesses are only allowed to offer bets on greyhound and horse races with projects that have a minimum capital of VND300 billion ($12.16 million) and VND1 trillion ($40.53 million), respectively. Each project must get in-principle approval by the Prime Minister on the basis of appraisal by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. The Ministry of Finance will coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to issue betting business licenses when businesses have completed building racetracks and prepared all needed facilities.
The Finance Minister’s report says that since 2017, seven provinces and cities have proposed the Prime Minister give in-principle approvals to horse and greyhound racing betting business projects. The PM has approved a horse racing project in Hanoi’s Soc Son district, but this has not been deployed due to problems regarding its capital contribution mechanism. Therefore, up to now, no business has been licensed to conduct betting on horse and greyhound races.
Before Decree 06, one enterprise had piloted betting on greyhound racing at a racetrack in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau since 1999. However, the project expired and it closed in March 2023.
Decree 06 allows one enterprise to pilot the business of betting on international football games for five years. The finance ministry has to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to organize the bidding process to select the enterprise. The selected business must have a minimum capital of VND1 trillion ($40.53 million) and make business plans in accordance with legal regulations.
However, because it contradicted provisions of the 2013 Bidding Law, which does not allow bidding on betting business projects, between 2017 and 2022, the finance ministry and relevant ministries and agencies proposed five times that a draft decree was formulated to replace Decree No. 06.
In 2023, the National Assembly issued the amended Bidding Law, which adds regulations on bidding to select investors for betting projects. On February 27, the government issued a draft decree on the bidding process and procedures for selecting investors to carry out betting business investments. The finance ministry is collecting feedback on this decree from other ministries and agencies.
- Read More
Singapore supports businesses, workers amid US tariff pressures
The Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT) has announced measures to help Singapore companies adapt to a new U.S. tariff.
Southeast Asia - Mon, July 14, 2025 | 10:11 pm GMT+7
Malaysia makes efforts to minimize US tariff’s impacts
Malaysia’s top export to the U.S. - electronics and electrical products - will face the biggest brunt of a 25% tariff hike that the U.S. has imposed on the country, said head of School of Business under the Monash University Malaysia Prof Nafis Alam.
Southeast Asia - Mon, July 14, 2025 | 10:08 pm GMT+7
Thailand faces $6.14 bln export loss if US tariff is 25-36%: forecast
Thailand could lose up to THB200 billion ($6.14 billion) in export value this year if the U.S. imposes new tariffs ranging from 25-36% on Thai goods, according to a forecast from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
Southeast Asia - Mon, July 14, 2025 | 10:06 pm GMT+7
Southern Vietnam province Tay Ninh okays many high-tech agri projects
Tay Ninh authorities recently granted in-principle approvals to a string of high-tech agricultural projects, paving the way for significant development opportunities in the southern province.
Industries - Mon, July 14, 2025 | 10:00 pm GMT+7
Construction ministry backs $1.95 bln port project in southern Vietnam
Geleximco Group's Cai Mep Ha container and general port project aligns with the national master plan and the master plan for Vietnam’s seaport system, according to the Ministry of Construction.
Infrastructure - Mon, July 14, 2025 | 5:09 pm GMT+7
Electric vehicles in Vietnam: 7 years of development and double-digit growth prospect
The shift toward greener mobility has been underway in Vietnam and the local electric vehicle (EV) market is expected to see double-digit growth thanks to favorable policies, infrastructure development, automakers’ efforts, and a young consumer base.
Economy - Mon, July 14, 2025 | 4:46 pm GMT+7
HCMC apartment prices continue to rise as supply hits 10-year low in H1
The apartment market in former Ho Chi Minh City continued to see rising prices since the total supply in the first six months of 2025 hit the lowest since 2015, according to real estate consultancy firm DKRA.
Real Estate - Mon, July 14, 2025 | 4:03 pm GMT+7
Buyer secures Sunshine Group’s Hanoi shophouse at 15% lower than market price via livestream
A buyer successfully secured a shophouse at property major Sunshine Group’s Noble Palace Tay Thang Long project in Hanoi for VND11 billion ($421,295), VND2.5 billion or 15% below market value, during a bidding livestream on the NobleGo platform held last Friday evening.
Companies - Mon, July 14, 2025 | 1:37 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s major rice exporter Vinafood 1 tasked with developing mega agri-logistics hub
Vinafood 1, Vietnam's top rice exporter, has been asked to develop an integrated hub for agricultural trade, logistics, warehousing, exports, customs, banking, irradiation, and research and development activities.
Industries - Mon, July 14, 2025 | 12:19 pm GMT+7
Vietnam conglomerate Masan to issue over 7.5 mln ESOP shares
Vietnam’s leading multi-sector conglomerate Masan Group will issue up to 7.5 million MSN shares under an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) at a par value and issue price of VND10,000 ($0.38) apiece.
Companies - Mon, July 14, 2025 | 11:26 am GMT+7
Investment funds in Vietnam upbeat about new US tariff
With Vietnam soon reaching a trade agreement with the U.S., major uncertainties have significantly diminished, positively impacting investor sentiment in the stock market, according to investment funds.
Finance - Mon, July 14, 2025 | 9:04 am GMT+7
AI, data platform investment unlocks huge opportunities to enhance customer experience: Masan CEO
Vietnam’s leading multi-sector conglomerate Masan Group has made strong investments in AI, big data, and integrated supply chains to improve its operational efficiency, optimize costs, and better serve Vietnam’s 100 million consumers, said CEO Danny Le.
Companies - Sun, July 13, 2025 | 6:51 pm GMT+7
HCMC poised to become Southeast Asia's innovation, financial hub following merger: experts
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s southern metropolis, is expected to establish itself as a hub for finance, manufacturing, trade, logistics, and innovation in Southeast Asia, after its merger with neighboring provinces.
Economy - Sun, July 13, 2025 | 1:56 pm GMT+7
PVI Insurance honored with prestigious international awards
2025 marks a proud milestone for PVI Insurance Corporation (PVI Insurance), as it has been consecutively recognized with prestigious accolades from top-tier institutions in the Asian insurance industry.
Companies - Sun, July 13, 2025 | 1:27 pm GMT+7
Green logistics a vital condition for Vietnam firms to flourish: exec
Green logistics is not just a long-term goal but a present-day opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to advance amid the global transition toward sustainable development.
Companies - Sun, July 13, 2025 | 12:18 pm GMT+7
VNPT-VinaPhone, VNPT-Media to merge into parent company VNPT
Telecommunication Services Corporation (VNPT-VinaPhone) and Communications Corporation (VNPT-Media) will be merged into their parent company, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT).
Companies - Sun, July 13, 2025 | 9:52 am GMT+7