New: Betting on tournaments organized by VFF is not allowed

The Ministry of Finance proposed regulations on international football betting in the direction of matches and tournaments that are allowed to be operated by the International Football Federation (FIFA), a member of FIFA; excluding electronic football championships and matches and tournaments organized by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

Avoid negativity within Vietnamese teams

The Ministry of Finance is seeking comments on a draft decree replacing Decree 06/2017/ND-CP on betting on horse racing, dog racing and international football. This Decree stipulates that international football tournaments that are allowed to be bet on must be those announced and approved by FIFA. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announces the list of matches and tournaments.

The above regulation is problematic because FIFA only announces international football matches and tournaments organized by FIFA and world electronic football tournaments. International football tournaments organized by FIFA do not take place regularly (about 4-8 tournaments/year) and are short-lived (from 10-30 days/tournament). Therefore, business is interrupted, making it difficult to attract investors (due to high investment and business costs, making it difficult to make a profit). The Ministry of Finance submitted to the Government regulations in the direction that matches and tournaments allowed for business must be organized by FIFA or FIFA members; not including electronic football championships (eSport football) and not including matches and tournaments organized by VFF.

English Premier League betting could become legal in Vietnam

PHOTO: REUTERS

It is understandable that the Ministry of Finance proposed not to allow betting and trading in tournaments and matches organized by VFF in order to absolutely prevent negative situations that may occur within the Vietnamese football teams participating in matches within the framework of tournaments organized by VFF. For example, collusion, match-fixing, and behaviors that can create results to serve the betting market.

Will be prosecuted if...

According to the Ministry of Finance, international football betting business is nationwide, allowed to operate via the internet and operating hours follow the schedule of matches held abroad (approximately from 9pm to 4am), so it can have a major impact on security, order and social safety if not strictly controlled.

There are opinions that although Vietnam's Law on Physical Training and Sports allows sports betting, without strict management and control, betting behavior can be easily exploited and violate criminal law, stipulated in Article 321 of the Penal Code on gambling. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that sports betting business is a special type of entertainment service and is still quite new in Vietnam; the management agency does not have much experience in supervision, so in the initial stage of implementation, appropriate steps need to be taken. Mr. Hung said: "This model in Vietnam will be implemented on the principle of caution, from low to high, betting products from simple to complex, completely suitable for management, operation and supervision of the state. Sports betting is a conditional business activity, subject to strict control by competent state agencies. The currency used is VND".

According to Minister Nguyen Van Hung, according to Article 321 of the 2015 Penal Code (amended in 2017), sports betting that does not comply with the provisions of the Law on Physical Training and Sports and its guiding documents is considered a violation of the law, and depending on the severity, may be subject to criminal prosecution for gambling.

Tight control from the betting business licensing process

To avoid waste, on the basis of strictly controlling international football betting business activities, the Ministry of Finance submitted to the Government regulations on the process and procedures for granting a certificate of eligibility including 3 steps: The competent authority (the Politburo) allows an enterprise to conduct international football betting business (similar to casino business); the enterprise selected by the competent authority (the Politburo) carries out investment procedures according to the provisions of the law on investment; the Ministry of Finance issues a certificate of eligibility to do business before the enterprise goes into operation.

It is expected that the Ministry of Finance will coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to submit to the Government for promulgation of a decree in December 2025.

Nhu Phong

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/moi-khong-cho-phep-dat-cuoc-cac-giai-do-vff-to-chuc-1852509261930415.htm