Vietnam should allow distribution of betting tickets online from the start: Vabis chair

Vietnam should allow bets on horse racing, greyhound racing, and international football to be distributed via the Internet, according to Nguyen Ngoc My, chairman of local business Vabis Group.

My, also vice chairman of the Vietnam's Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE), made the suggestion for amendments and supplements to Decree 06/2017 on horse racing, greyhound racing, and international football betting.

My clarified the “betting ticket” distribution, whether through terminals (on-site or off-site of the sports venues), telephone (landline or mobile), or Internet/mobile apps, should be at the discretion of the betting business.

This decision should be based on current technologies suitable for the actual circumstances. It is subject to approval of the Ministry of Finance, as part of the Certificate of Eligibility for Betting Business application.

He noted that in the era of Industry 4.0, digitalization and the application of the Internet in tandem with state management through e-government is an inevitable and irreversible strategic trend. Concerns about the inability to control businesses and participants in betting are not valid in restricting the distribution of betting tickets via the Internet.

My added that a survey of TGM Research, an international market researching agency with a Vietnam office, indicates that 80% of sports bettors worldwide participate in betting through the Internet or mobile apps. The survey also reveals that in Vietnam, regardless of the legal framework, 91% of illegal bettors still place their bets via the Internet/mobile apps.

The exec argued tat investment in ticket distribution via (1) terminals outside the racetrack, (2) messaging systems, and (3) especially landlines (call centers) is highly wasteful because such equipment is no longer produced and goes against the trend of Industry 4.0. Once Internet ticket distribution is implemented, other methods will naturally become obsolete.

For horse racing and greyhound racing, these activities have had over 20 years of pilot implementation for prize betting and ticket distribution within racetracks in Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. The limitation on ticket distribution methods has negatively impacted the budget contribution ratio from these activities, My stressed.

Vabis Group operates in the fields of project consulting and development, sports & entertainment, and travel & leisure.

The Vietnam’s Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE) and The Investor will organize a workshop on suggestions to amend the government’s Decree 06 on horse racing, greyhound racing and international football betting services. The workshop aims to bolster the development of legal policies on these services.

It will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 28, 2024 at the Ministry of Planning and Investment building, 65 Van Mieu street, Dong Da district, Hanoi.

The event will be attended by National Assembly members, representatives of ministries, experts and leaders of business associations, as well as international and domestic businesses.