The experimental program that allowed Vietnamese people to gamble at Corona Resort & Casino in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, has been temporarily suspended. Launched in 2019, this pilot program was the first in the nation to allow residents to play at a casino under certain restrictions, which was a major milestone.
The casino shared its gratitude through an online notice, expressing pride in being “the first enterprise authorized to pilot Vietnamese citizens playing at a casino.” Starting midnight on December 31, Vietnamese citizens will no longer be allowed to gamble at the facility, with the suspension lasting “until further notice … regarding the termination or continuation of this pilot program.” However, the restriction does not apply to international patrons or Vietnamese nationals with foreign passports.
A Landmark Program Halted by Covid-19
The Politburo approved the trial in 2016, allowing locals to gamble at casinos on two designated islands: Phu Quoc and Van Don. The Corona Resort, developed by Phu Quoc Tourism Investment and Development JSC, launched in January 2019 with an investment of VND50 trillion ($2.15 billion). It remains the only operational casino in Vietnam where locals could participate under strict guidelines.
Eligible participants needed to earn a minimum monthly income of VND10 million and pay an entry fee of VND1 million per day or VND25 million monthly.
The three-year pilot was initially set to conclude in 2022. However, disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic led the Ministry of Finance to extend the program, as the pandemic skewed the trial’s results. Meanwhile, the Van Don project, located in the Bai Tu Long archipelago, remains in the planning stages.
Corona Resort & Casino’s suspension reflects the complex challenges of assessing the viability of locals’ participation in gambling. While the trial brought significant attention to Vietnam’s evolving gaming industry, its interruption raises questions about the program’s future.
For now, the suspension highlights the delicate balance between regulatory frameworks and external challenges, such as the pandemic, in shaping the nation’s gaming policies.
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