Let Vietnamese gamble at Phu Quoc casino another 2 years: finance ministry

The trial program, which has been ongoing for the last three years, has proved to be a correct policy that satisfies the needs of a group of citizens and increases government revenue, the ministry said in a proposal to the Politburo.

The program, which allows Vietnamese gamble at Casino Corona on Phu Quoc Island, also helps create 2,000 jobs.

However, Covid-19 in the last two years has affected the operation of the casino.

For this reason, the Ministry of Finance proposed the Politburo allows the extension of the trial program until 2024.

Casino Corona served 240,560 customers from 2019 to 2021, in which Vietnamese accounted for 65%. Local clients have spent VND141 billion ($5.9 million) since its opening.

They accounted for 5% of the total revenue of over VND2.7 trillion. The casino has paid VND1.7 trillion in taxes to the government.

It is one of two casinos opened to Vietnamese in a trial program in a country where gambling is treated by the government as a "social evil."

The other, located in Van Don of Quang Ninh Province, has not received approvals for investment.