Finance ministry proposes extending pilot program allowing Vietnamese to gamble at Phu Quoc casino
Finance ministry proposes extending pilot program allowing Vietnamese to gamble at Phu Quoc casino
The Vietnamese Ministry of Finance asked for approval from the Politburo on Wednesday to extend the pilot program permitting Vietnamese people to gamble at a casino on Phu Quoc Island off the coast of Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam until 2024.
The trial program, which has been ongoing for the last three years, has proved to be a right policy that satisfies the needs of some citizens and increases state budget revenue, the ministry said in a proposal to the all-powerful Politburo.
It has also helped create 2,000 jobs.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years has affected the operation of the casino.
Therefore, the Ministry of Finance proposed that the Politburo allow the extension of the trial program until 2024.
The casino on Phu Quoc served 240,560 customers from 2019 to 2021, of which Vietnamese accounted for 65 percent.
Local clients have spent VND141 billion (US$5.85 million) on entrance tickets.
The casino has paid VND1.73 trillion ($71.74 million) in taxes to the state coffers.
It is one of the only two casinos open to Vietnamese in a trial program in the country.
The other, located in Van Don District of northern Quang Ninh Province, has not been approved for investment.
