Vietnam Gambling on World Cup 2018 Halted by Police Arrests

The control of Vietnam gambling on World Cup 2018 has been successfully implemented with the recent police arrests. High ranking authorities’ figures were involved.

Russia will be hosting the upcoming 2018 World Cup from the 14th of June until the 15th of July. Consequently, it urges a stricter control of Vietnam gambling on World Cup 2018. According to VN Express, two major arrests have been made only in the past one month.

Arrests to Stop Vietnam Gambling on World Cup 2018

As the international football tournament nears, Vietnam gambling on World Cup 2018 naturally follows. The only problem is: it’s illegal. On April 6, Lieutenant General Phan Van Vinh was arrested for being involved in the illegal gambling in Vietnam.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, the Lieutenant General is suspected of “abusing power in performance of official duties.” The former senior police official will be put under a 4-month long investigation. If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to 15 years!

The first major police arrest was in the beginning of March. It included Nguyen Thanh Hoa, Director of the Police Cyber Crime Division, and major technology businessmen. Apart from this, 38 people were arrested and 83 people continue to be investigated.

Nguyen Thanh Hoa is the prime suspect for being the mastermind behind the online gambling business in Vietnam. The multimillion-dollar business has 8 million frequent users and over 44 million dollars in cash was confiscated during the arrest.

The Situation of Gambling in Vietnam

From March 2017 onwards, Vietnamese citizens are allowed to visit casinos. They have to be 21 years old and have an income of 445 dollars per month. This relaxation on gambling in Vietnam is part of a three-year pilot program.

However, sports betting in Vietnam remains illegal although it is very popular among the locals. Look on the bright side. The casino ban on the Vietnamese citizens has been lifted; sports betting could be the next one! Legalized Vietnam gambling on World Cup 2018 may not be possible yet, but who knows about the future? The Vietnamese might be able to bet on the next World Cup without breaking the law!