Vietnam issues new penalties for betting and gaming sectors

Vietnam has issued Decree No. 391/2026/NĐ-CP, establishing administrative penalties for violations in the betting, casino, and prize-winning electronic gaming sectors. Signed by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang, the decree sets maximum fines at 200 million VND for organizations and 100 million VND for individuals.

Key violations subject to high penalties include operating betting businesses beyond authorized scopes, exploiting betting event results, and lending money to players for betting. The decree also targets anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing failures, such as maintaining anonymous accounts or obstructing information provision.

Additional sanctions include the temporary suspension of business operations and the confiscation of violating assets or vehicles. The decree is scheduled to take effect on December 5, 2026.