Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance (MoF) is preparing to revise the financial capacity requirement for Vietnamese citizens wishing to enter pilot casinos. The current rule—requiring locals to show proof of monthly income above VND 10 million (~US$400)—has long been criticized as difficult to verify and a barrier to participation. The verification process is often inconsistent across provinces, prompting operators and policymakers to call for a clearer, more scalable framework as Vietnam expands its locals gaming pilot.
Vietnam has officially exceeded its previous all-time record for international tourist arrivals, marking a major milestone for the country’s post-pandemic tourism rebound. Multiple independent sources, including VNExpress, Tuoi Tre News, and data from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), confirm that visitor numbers in 2025 have already surpassed the 2019 peak—previously considered the benchmark year before global travel disruptions.
Kangwon Land is accelerating its diversification strategy, aiming to lift its non-gaming revenue contribution from the current 20% to 40%. This move aligns with a broader industry trend where integrated resorts increasingly depend on hotels, entertainment, and MICE facilities to balance volatility in gaming income. Kangwon Land—the only casino allowed to accept local residents—face pressure to demonstrate more sustainable, tourism-driven growth even while their gaming floors remain strong.
Ho Tram Project Company, operator of The Grand Ho Tram integrated resort in Vietnam, has announced that the upcoming introduction of locals gaming will be accompanied by a suite of “world-class responsible gaming practices”. The operator is aligning its measures with international standards as Vietnam prepares to expand its long-restricted gaming access for citizens. This comes as the government evaluates trial results from previous pilot programs (such as Corona Resort on Phu Quoc), which reported as generating strong tax revenue but requiring stronger RG oversight.
SJM Holdings has officially confirmed that Casino Fortuna, one of its long-running satellite casinos, will cease operations on 31 December 2025, marking another contraction of Macau’s once-large satellite network. The closure follows the expiry of the sub-concession-era contracts that allowed independent hotel owners to run casinos under SJM’s licence. Multi-source industry commentary has consistently noted that satellite properties have struggled under the city’s post-2022 regulatory framework, which requires tighter operational control by concessionaires and higher compliance standards.
Author: Janice Chew • Tuesday, 09/12/2025
