Corona Resort & Casino, the only casino in Vietnam in which locals are allowed to gamble, generated only VND141 billion (US$5.9 million) in revenues from local customers in the three years since its January 2019 launch, according to a report from provincial authorities.
The report, submitted to the central government, comes after Corona – located on Phu Quoc Island – completed its initial three-year trial program for locals gaming. It was planned to be one of two casinos welcoming local players however the second, located in the rural district of Van Don in Quang Ninh Province, has yet to open.
As per VN Express, the new report from authorities in Kien Giang Province also showed that locals contributed just 5% of Corona’s total revenues of VND2.7 trillion (US$113 million) during the period in question, of which VND1.7 trillion (US$71 million) is said to have been paid in taxes.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance is currently awaiting a decision from the government after recently calling on the trial of locals gaming to be extended until 2024 due to the impact of COVID-19 on the initial trial period. It has also called on the government to add two more casinos in Da Nang City and Khanh Hoa Province to the trial.