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Vietnam opens Ho Tram casino to local players under five-year government pilot

Vietnamese citizens can now access the Grand Ho Tram casino under a government trial program designed to test domestic participation in the country’s gaming sector.

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The Grand Ho Tram resort has begun admitting Vietnamese citizens under a five-year government pilot program
Local players must meet income requirements and pay an access fee to enter the casino floor

The Grand Ho Tram integrated resort has begun admitting Vietnamese citizens to its casino floor under a government-approved pilot program that took effect in November 2025 and will run for five years.

The resort outlined its 2026 operational strategy during a presentation held on March 10 in Ho Chi Minh City, detailing the procedures that allow domestic players to access the gaming floor.

Under current regulations, Vietnamese nationals must meet several eligibility requirements to participate. Players must be at least 21 years old and earn a minimum monthly income of approximately VND 10m ($500).

Participants are also required to register personal information in the resort’s management system and purchase an entry pass costing VND 1m per day or VND 25m for a monthly pass.

While there is currently no formal cap on the amount domestic players can wager per visit, casino management systems track gambling activity in order to flag potential compliance risks.

Will Bauer, General Director of The Grand Ho Tram, said: “This is both an opportunity and a great responsibility when it comes to ensuring social order while operating this type of entertainment. I have over 30 years of experience operating casinos in many parts of the world, and I can confirm that this is a sector that requires very strict governance.”

Bauer added that the resort has trained casino staff to identify potential signs of problematic gambling behavior among players.

Ho Tram is one of three locations participating in the government’s domestic access pilot. Corona Phu Quoc was the first casino authorized to admit Vietnamese citizens, while Van Don represents the third venue included in the program.

Vietnam currently has nine operating casino projects, including six smaller venues and three large-scale integrated resorts. Authorities are expected to evaluate the results of the pilot program after five years before deciding whether to expand domestic access to casinos nationwide.

Good to know

Vietnam has historically restricted casino gambling to foreign passport holders. The domestic access pilot launched in 2019 at Corona Phu Quoc and has been gradually expanded as authorities assess its economic and social impact

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