According to the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports on May 12th, the "Crown Poker Club" fanpage on Facebook has recently been continuously posting information and images about the "WPT Vietnam 2024" tournament (a poker tournament) scheduled to be held from May 14th to May 27th at a 5-star hotel in Dong Da District, Hanoi.
Information about this tournament reveals that tickets for athletes to participate vary in price, from a few million dong to tens of millions dong.
Regarding this matter, a representative from a specialized department of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports stated that organizing mass poker tournaments requires the approval and supervision of relevant authorities.
Poker is a sensitive issue, so when an organization applies for a permit, the authorities will review and inspect the application and notify the Hanoi City Police and local authorities about this public sporting event. If disguised gambling occurs, the police will handle those involved and the organizing unit according to the law.
Currently, the "WPT VietNam 2024" tournament has not yet received approval in principle from the Department of Culture and Sports.
Information about the advertised poker tournament has been posted.
Previously, on December 6, 2023, the Office of the People's Committee of Hanoi City issued a document instructing the City Police to verify a citizen's complaint alleging that VSOP Entertainment and Event Organization Joint Stock Company organized a Bridge and Poker tournament at the National Convention Center with signs of disguised gambling, and that the approval process for organizing the tournament was carried out in violation of the law.
In a subsequent press briefing, a representative from the Hanoi City Police stated that, based on initial verification and discussions with relevant authorities, the City Police determined that the Department of Culture and Sports had approved the plan for VSOP Company to organize the aforementioned tournament. The participation of many foreigners in the tournament was voluntary and not at the invitation of any Vietnamese unit or organization.
The conclusions of the agencies all agreed that no evidence had been found of participants betting or exchanging chips for cash, therefore there was insufficient basis to determine whether there were signs of the crimes of Organizing Gambling or Gambling.
Following the incident, the Hanoi Police reviewed relevant legal documents and found that the "Hanoi Open Bridge and Poker Tournament December 2023," which had a large number of participants, including many foreigners, and was held at the National Convention Center, lacked strict regulations regarding its management, operation, and organization.
Authorities believe that using cash to pay participation fees and prizes in large amounts poses a potential risk of being exploited by individuals for gambling activities.
According to the Hanoi City Police, current regulations on mass sports activities are very general, lacking specific provisions on conditions, eligible participants, funding sources, prize money, responsibility for managing and organizing tournaments, and handling violations .
Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/dang-xem-xet-thong-tin-giai-poker-du-kien-to-chuc-duoc-o-ha-noi-a663248.html
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