Hanoi, October 29, 2026. Vietnam has approved new regulations to modernize player identification at casinos and strengthen penalties against operators violating gambling laws. Decrees No. 392/2026/NĐ-CP and 391/2026/NĐ-CP, issued on October 20, will take effect on November 15 and December 5, respectively.
Decree No. 392, signed by Standing Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Gia Túc, will allow identity verification through VNeID, the national digital identification application, or valid physical identification documents.
Nguyễn Văn Thắng
Casinos, electronic gaming establishments offering prizes to foreign players, and betting operators will be required to record customer information, verify eligibility, and maintain security controls.
The reform amends Decree No. 96/2016, requiring fire prevention protocols, gaming machine inventories, and documentation verifying their origin. It also provides for a minimum of 30% of security personnel to come from authorized external security providers, where applicable, and employment restrictions for individuals with certain unexpunged criminal convictions.
Lương Tam Quang
Separately, Decree No. 391, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng, establishes maximum fines of VND 200 million for companies and VND 100 million for individuals. Penalties include VND 160–180 million for extending gambling credit, VND 130–150 million for allowing unauthorized individuals to place bets, and up to VND 180 million for improper casino admissions. The decree also provides for operational suspensions.
Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng's government is coordinating these reforms through the Ministry of Public Security, headed by Lương Tam Quang, and the Ministry of Finance, led by Ngô Văn Tuấn.
The changes affect establishments such as Corona Resort & Casino in Phú Quốc, permanently authorized to admit eligible Vietnamese players since November 2025; The Grand Ho Tram, operating under a five-year pilot program; and the Vân Đồn casino project in Quảng Ninh, whose pilot program will begin once it receives operational authorization. Digital identification does not eliminate admission requirements: Vietnamese players must continue meeting legal eligibility conditions, including the minimum age of 21.
