Vietnam identifies first casino to take part in locals gambling trial

Vietnam has identified the first casino that will be allowed to accept local residents on its gaming floor.

Last week, the Hanoi Times reported that Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment had recommended that the in-development Bai Dai Integrated Resort Project on Phu Quoc island be granted authority to participate in a three-year pilot program that lifts the longstanding ban on locals gambling in casinos.

Last December, Vietnam’s government approved Decree 03/2017/ND-CP, which calls for two casinos to participate in the three-year locals trial. The Phu Quoc resort and another in-development project in Quang Ninh province were previously tipped as being the only venues that would be allowed to participate in the trial.

While the pilot project was supposed to commence last December, neither of the casinos fingered as the likely candidates have opened to the public yet. The Hanoi Times report indicated that the pilot program won’t officially start until the first casino is awarded its gaming license.