China urges citizens in Vietnam to resist gambling

Chinese authorities have urged citizens residing in Vietnam to refrain from participating in any form of gambling, warning of severe legal and personal consequences. As reported by local media, the advisory follows a rise in cases involving Chinese nationals detained overseas for gambling-related offenses.

The Chinese Embassy in Vietnam said that in recent years, a number of citizens have suffered significant financial losses abroad due to gambling, with some cases escalating into kidnapping, extortion, illegal detention and other serious crimes that threaten personal safety. Several Chinese nationals in Vietnam have reportedly been arrested for gambling activities and now face heavy fines and possible imprisonment under Vietnamese law.

The embassy emphasized that cross-border gambling violates Chinese criminal law, even if the gambling activity takes place in jurisdictions where casinos operate legally. Amendments to China’s Criminal Law explicitly criminalize organizing overseas gambling, operating gambling venues, and recruiting Chinese citizens to participate. Judicial authorities may pursue criminal responsibility for such acts.

In its statement, the embassy warned that gambling often leads to fraud and financial ruin, describing it as a pathway to further crimes including organized criminal activity, illegal migration and telecommunications fraud. Citizens were urged not to provide support services to cross-border gambling operations, including venue rental, catering, technical assistance or financial settlement services.

Authorities also encouraged individuals with information about overseas gambling operations involving Chinese nationals to report it through official channels. Those already involved in gambling activities abroad were advised to turn themselves in and cooperate with investigators, which could lead to more lenient treatment under the law.

The embassy said the advisory is intended to safeguard the legitimate rights and safety of Chinese citizens overseas and to reinforce broader efforts to combat cross-border gambling networks.