• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Sunday 24 August 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Asian Poker Tour cancels Vietnam poker series mid-series amid concerns over legality

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Sun 10 Dec 2023 at 07:37
Asian Poker Tour cancels Vietnam poker series mid-series amid concerns over legality
70
SHARES
1.8k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

The Asian Poker Tour (APT) on Friday cancelled the last two days of the APT Hanoi Billions in Vietnam amid allegations the series was being held in breach of local gambling laws.

The event was eight days into its scheduled 10-day series at the National Convention Center in Hanoi when the APT posted an announcement via its social media channels announcing the cancellation of all remaining tournaments on 9 and 10 December, with players still involved or who had already paid entry fees to receive full refunds.

The APT did not explain the reasons for cancellation, stating only that the decision “has not been made lightly” and is “rooted in extenuating circumstances that have arisen, ones that, despite our utmost efforts, we are unable to overcome.

“The safety and well-being of our players and staff are of paramount importance to us, and we must prioritize these concerns above all else,” it added.

According to people on the ground who spoke to Inside Asian Gaming, police visited the National Convention Center on Friday looking for the owners and associates of the APT’s local partner, VSOP Entertainment Company. It is unclear who they spoke to or what was said, but it appears the police threatened to return the following day.

Local media reported Friday that this was a result of a citizen’s complaint sent to the Hanoi People’s Committee and accusing VSOP Entertainment Company of organizing Bridge and poker tournaments without full approval. This is despite the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports having reportedly sent written permission to VSOP on 13 November agreeing to allow the event to go ahead. IAG sources said they believed VSOP only had one of two necessary permits to run the event.

It has also been claimed that there were concerns around the event’s links to online poker site Natural8, which ran online satellites to the event and was listed as an event sponsor, with signage and logos clearly visible throughout the venue. Natural8, the Asian-based affiliate of GG Poker, is not a legal entity in Vietnam.

It is understood the APT was aware of concerns earlier in the week and had tried to address them: On Tuesday the organizers told players that all remaining mixed games were cancelled and that only flop games were allowed to be dealt. On Wednesday organizers stopped accepting buy-ins using international currency. And on Thursday all Natural8 signage and merchandise stands were removed from the venue, or logos covered.

There were also rumors circulating that APT staff had fled Vietnam in the hours after the police first visited, however the APT confirmed to IAG that this was not the case and that staff were still on the ground as of Saturday. IAG contacted some of those staff directly who confirmed they were safe.

However, others told IAG that one of the reasons the series was suddenly cancelled was because the APT could not guarantee the safety of its staff and players if the series had continued.

RelatedPosts

Indian court denies request to block all online gambling sites during cricket World Cup

Indian parliament bans all real-money online gambling

Fri 22 Aug 2025 at 06:21
Vietnam asks PM to grant approval for US$2 billion Van Don casino development in Quang Ninh province

Local developer Sun Group approved to develop new US$2 billion integrated resort with locals gaming in Quang Ninh Province

Mon 18 Aug 2025 at 12:33
Vietnam’s only casino for locals sneaks into profit in first six months of operation

Vietnamese economists support loosening of locals casino gaming laws to improve oversight

Thu 14 Aug 2025 at 05:33
Game changer: WPT’s Adam Pliska

Tournament poker now legal in Thailand as Acting PM overturns long-standing ban

Wed 6 Aug 2025 at 05:52
Load More
Tags: Asian Poker TourhanoiPokerpoliceVietnam
Share28Share5
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Editorial – Better late than never

Editorial – Better late than never

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 07:13

Inside Asian Gaming has in recent weeks been hearing increasing chatter around a possible move by Vietnamese authorities to introduce...

Angel’s Yasushi Shigeta

Angel’s Yasushi Shigeta

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 07:08

Yasushi Shigeta, Chairman and owner of one of the world’s largest gaming industry suppliers, Angel Group, sits down with Inside...

The Magic Number

The Magic Number

by David Bonnet
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 06:41

In this in-depth deep dive into the evolution of the Asian gaming landscape, David Bonnet argues that many regional jurisdictions...

Rashid Suliman – A road well traveled

Rashid Suliman – A road well traveled

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 02:45

Rashid Suliman, Vice President of Global Gaming Asia-Pacific for casino solutions provider TransAct Technologies, provides some insight into his unique...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
HKUST
NWR

Related Posts

More reasons to visit Clark

Hann postpones US$207 million IPO due to poor market conditions

by Ben Blaschke
Sun 24 Aug 2025 at 11:19

The holding company of Clark’s Hann Casino Resort has postponed an initial public offering that had been planned to take place in September, according to a report by Bloomberg. The delay is due to global uncertainties that have heavily impacted...

Macau visitor arrivals grew 14.5% year-on-year to 3,458,366 in July

Macau visitor arrivals grew 14.5% year-on-year to 3,458,366 in July

by Pierce Chan
Sun 24 Aug 2025 at 08:30

Driven by the summer holiday travel peak season, Macau’s total visitor arrivals in July increased by 14.5% year-on-year and 19.6% month-on-month, reaching 3,458,366 and recovering to 97.9% of the level achieved in July 2019. Visitors from mainland China remained the...

Market organized to drive business to area impacted by Macau satellite casino closures generates US$25,000 in sales in first four days

Market organized to drive business to area impacted by Macau satellite casino closures generates US$25,000 in sales in first four days

by Pierce Chan
Sun 24 Aug 2025 at 08:26

The Macau government has revealed that the NAPE food and cultural creativity market, held from 15 August, generated MOP$200,000 (US$25,000) in sales in its first four days. The festival is part of a series of events planned by the government...

Wynn Macau

Wynn Macau Ltd to redeem in full US$1 billion of outstanding notes due 2026 in September

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 22 Aug 2025 at 11:00

Wynn Macau Ltd confirmed Friday that it will redeem in full senior notes due 2026 and valued at US$1 billion on 2 September 2025. The redemption includes the company’s US$750 million 5.500% senior notes due 2026 issued in June 2020...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • English