Vietnam delays airport slots plan until after locals-in-casinos trial

Vietnam will delay its plan to allow slot machines in international airports until after the country’s locals-in-casinos trial is concluded.

In November 2015, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung gave his approval in principle of a plan to install slot machine areas in international airports that would only be accessible by holders of international passports. The plan was supported by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam as a new revenue stream.

But Yogonet reported this week that current PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc had reached agreement with the Ministry of Finance to put the airport slots plan on hold until the government can gauge the results of its three-year trial of allowing local residents to gamble at two in-development Vietnamese integrated resorts.

Longtime Vietnam market watcher Augustine Ha Ton Vinh said Phuc had made the slots decision on December 30, one week after Phuc confirmed that the three-year locals trial would proceed at the Sun Group’s casino in Quang Ninh province’s Van Don special economic zone, and the Vingroup resort being built on Phu Quoc island.