In a move that would mark a substantial shift in national policy, Vietnam is said to be considering a permanent lifting of restrictions on locals gambling at Phu Quoc’s Corona Resort & Casino.
According to a report by VietnamNet, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long has tasked the Ministry of Finance with exploring “special development policies” for Phu Quoc including allowing access for locals to the area’s sole licensed casino.
Corona Resort, which is linked to local conglomerate Vingroup, was the only developed casino included in a pilot program for locals gaming that concluded at the end of 2024– a program that faced significant disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The VietnamNet report claims that the directive from Le Thanh Long follows a recent working session with regional provinces that outlined the need to boost infrastructure investment and regional development in the Mekong Delta. The formation of a special administrative unit for Phu Quoc is said to have been among the targeted outcomes.
Aside from “formulating and enacting” special policies for the development of Phu Quoc, a permanent resumption of locals gaming for the area is said to be a key proposal handed to the Ministry of Finance to study.
The report comes at a time when industry chatter has been rife around a potential seismic shift in Vietnam’s domestic casino policy – possibly extending well beyond Phu Quoc.
The Ministry of Finance has also recently submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister seeking approval to push forward with a VND51.5 trillion (US$2 billion) luxury casino-resort development in Quang Ninh province.
Outside of Corona Resort, the Van Don project was the other facility initially approved to take part in the recently concluded pilot program for locals gambling – a curious decision given that the project had not, and to this day still hasn’t, broken ground.
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