Vietnam gov't to allow bets on international football

Ngoc Thuy

Jun 22, 2020 / 09:18 PM

Locals could make a bet via a bank account, e-wallet or mobile phone bill.

People in Vietnam not only could place their bets on international football matches recognized by the International Federation of Asociation Football (FIFA), the international governing body of this sport, they would be able to do so on football matches in major European and American leagues via e-wallet or mobile phone account.

Locals could make a bet on football matches via a bank account, e-wallet or mobile phone bill.

Before betting, people are required to have a registered account at a licensed bookmaking company and make a bet via bank account, e-wallet or mobile phone bill.

These are notable proposals from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for a draft decree, which will be open for public comment and would replace Decree No.06 released in 2017 governing business in the fields of betting on horse racing, greyhound racing and international football.

The expansion of the list of football matches for betting is aimed to attract more investors to participate in this betting business, as the existing legislation only allows betting on international matches or tournaments that take place once every two or four years.

This is despite the fact that investors in this field are required to have registered capital of at least VND1 trillion (US$43.13 million).

Therefore, the MoF suggested the government to include major leagues that are played throughout the year and have large number of fans, including that of England's Premier League, Spain's La Liga, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A and France's League 1, among others, for sports betting.

In Decree No.06, locals must be over 21 years of age to be able to bet, while a wager limit is set at VND1 million (US$43.13) per day.

Currently, Vietnam only allows locals to bet on football matches recognized by the FIFA, which include the World Cup, the Confederations Cup, Copa America, Champions League, Europa League, Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, and matches not played by the Vietnamese national team.

Sports betting was considered illegal in Vietnam, which led to many locals to turn to international gambling websites. The Illegal betting market in Vietnam is estimated to have an annual value of US$1 - US$1.5 billion, according to local media.

Sports betting - a promising land in Vietnam

18 Jun, 12:07

Vietnam`s National Assembly approved the revised Law on Physical Training and Sports, which now allows local to wager on a variety of sports events.

Hanoi advances hi-tech industry, with Hoa Lac as its key growth engine

Hanoi is accelerating its shift toward a modern industrial model built on high technology and innovation, with Hoa Lac emerging as the core destination for investment and high-quality human resources.

07 Dec, 08:50 AM

Hanoi pushes SME–large enterprise linkages to drive sustainable supply chain growth

Experts have said that the city can strengthen its competitiveness by deepening cooperation among the Government, large enterprises, and small businesses, especially through more effective supply-chain linkages.

05 Dec, 11:22 PM

Hanoi’s Hi-tech & Industrial Parks: achievements and outlook

Hanoi’s hi-tech and industrial parks are emerging as key drivers of the capital’s economic transformation, attracting high-value investment, advancing innovation and strengthening supply chains as the city sets its sights on becoming a leading regional technology and manufacturing hub.

05 Dec, 09:06 PM

Vietnam honors 50 transparent listed companies as stock market reaches new milestones

Vietnam honored 50 listed companies for excellence in transparency at the 2025 Vietnam Listed Company Awards, which spotlighted standout annual reports, corporate governance and sustainability disclosures amid rising foreign investor interest and growing alignment with international reporting standards.

05 Dec, 06:51 PM

Vietnam to tighten biometric authentication for new bank cards next year

Bank card issuers must conduct a face-to-face meeting and match the biometric data of individual customers or the legal representative of organizational customers with their identity documents.

05 Dec, 10:37 AM

Make in Vietnam forum spotlights breakthroughs shaping digital future in the country

Vietnam will host the seventh National Forum on Vietnamese Digital Technology Enterprises on December 25 in Hanoi, highlighting policy directions, strategic technologies and progress under the “Make in Vietnam” initiative as the country pushes toward a stronger digital economy.

02 Dec, 03:33 PM

Hanoi and Moscow seek new economic momentum as partnership marks 75 years

At the Moscow–Hanoi Business Forum, leaders from both capitals said 75 years of Vietnam–Russia ties provide a strong foundation to deepen economic and investment cooperation, especially in technology, trade and urban development.

02 Dec, 02:17 PM

Vietnam manufacturing maintains strong momentum despite storms disrupting supply chains

Vietnam’s manufacturing sector continued to expand in November, marking the fifth straight month of improvement, even as severe storms caused supply-chain delays and slowed production, according to S&P Global.

01 Dec, 09:13 PM