Vietnam opened its second casino to local players in January 2026 when The Grand Ho Tram joined the state’s expanding five-year pilot program. The move marks a significant shift in one of Southeast Asia’s most tightly controlled gambling markets — and signals where Vietnam’s casino policy is heading.
Vietnam now has two casinos open to local players: The Grand Ho Tram (opened to locals January 5, 2026, under a five-year pilot) and Corona Resort & Casino in Phu Quoc (granted permanent local access via Resolution No 307/2025/NQ-CP in November 2025). Vietnamese nationals pay a VND2.5 million ($100 USD) entry fee per 24-hour period. A third casino in Van Don has approval in principle but will not open until 2032.
Vietnam has historically maintained one of the strictest domestic gambling policies in Southeast Asia. For decades, casino gaming was restricted entirely to foreign passport holders — Vietnamese nationals were prohibited from entering casino floors regardless of their income or status. That began changing quietly in 2019 with a limited pilot at Phu Quoc’s Corona Resort, and accelerated dramatically between November 2025 and January 2026 when the government simultaneously granted permanent local access at Corona and opened The Grand Ho Tram to Vietnamese citizens for the first time in its 13-year history.
The policy shift is cautious and heavily controlled — entry fees, income requirements, and government supervision remain in place. But the direction of travel is clear: Vietnam is moving toward a regulated domestic casino market, one pilot extension at a time.
What Happened at Grand Ho Tram in January 2026
The Grand Ho Tram — a coastal resort located approximately two hours by car southeast of Ho Chi Minh City — opened its gaming floor to Vietnamese citizens for the first time on January 5, 2026. All gaming tables and slot machines on the main casino floor became available to local patrons from midday on that date, according to reporting by Inside Asian Gaming.
The opening followed central government approval issued in late November 2025, which cleared the way for Ho Tram to join the state’s five-year pilot program for domestic casino access. The resort simultaneously switched all mass gaming floor betting from US dollars to Vietnamese dong — a signal that management is orienting the property toward its new local player base.
“An important step in the government’s ongoing efforts to modernise the tourism sector while promoting economic growth and responsible entertainment.”
— Walt Power, CEO, The Grand Ho Tram, January 2026Key Facts About the Pilot Program
Full Timeline — Vietnam’s Casino Locals Policy
The Three Pilot Casinos Explained
| Casino | Location | Status | Local Access | Investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corona Resort & Casino | Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang | Open | Permanent (Resolution 307) | N/A |
| The Grand Ho Tram | Ho Tram, Ba Ria-Vung Tau | Open | 5-year pilot from Jan 2026 | $500M initial + $1B expansion |
| Van Don (Sun Group) | Quang Ninh Province | Under development | 5-year pilot from opening date | $2 billion |
Financial Performance — Are the Casinos Profitable?
The honest answer is that Vietnam’s casino pilot has delivered mixed financial results — and the data from the Ministry of Finance reveals a striking paradox.
Vietnamese players have become the dominant revenue driver. While local players accounted for approximately 52% of total gamblers between 2019 and 2024, they contributed around 88% of total casino revenue, according to figures cited by Asia Gaming Brief. The disparity reflects significantly higher spending levels among local players relative to international visitors.
Despite this revenue dominance, overall casino profitability remains elusive. The Grand Ho Tram reported persistent operating losses in the years before its inclusion in the pilot program, and those losses continued after opening to locals. The resort’s investor has sought an extension of the project’s completion deadline to December 2027, signaling the longer-than-expected path to financial sustainability.
One standout number: The Phu Quoc Corona complex paid more than VND4.1 trillion ($155.54 million) in taxes and related contributions between 2019 and 2024 — demonstrating significant fiscal value even while the resort itself struggled to turn a profit. This is a key reason the government chose to expand rather than terminate the pilot.
What This Means for Southeast Asian Gaming
Vietnam’s gradual opening matters well beyond its borders. Here is why the iGaming industry is watching closely:
- Population size — Vietnam has a population of approximately 98 million people, with a rapidly growing middle class. The domestic market potential — if fully opened — would rank among Southeast Asia’s largest.
- Model for cautious liberalization — Vietnam’s pilot approach — entry fees instead of income tests, fixed-duration trials, strict government supervision — offers a template other Southeast Asian governments may adapt. Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill discussions have referenced the Vietnam model.
- Online remains closed — Vietnam’s pilot is exclusively land-based. Online sports betting through offshore platforms remains illegal. The expansion of land-based access does not signal any immediate move toward online licensing.
- Profitability question unresolved — The persistent losses at Ho Tram raise real questions about whether Vietnam’s casino market can support financially viable integrated resorts at current scale, even with domestic player access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated June 10, 2026. Sources: Inside Asian Gaming, Asia Gaming Brief, and GGRAsia. CasinoBait will update this article as Vietnam’s casino policy evolves.
