Corona Resort & Casino will receive permanent access for Vietnamese nationals, and The Grand Ho Tram Resort, plus the planned Van Don integrated resort, will get five-year pilot programs for local entry that Vietnam officially confirmed. Under Resolution No. 307/2025/NQ-CP issued on 26 November 2025, domestic access to casinos beyond a single trial site was formally expanded by the government for the first time, reportedly. Most major policy shifts on casino entry since 2017, when local access was first tested on a limited basis, have been marked by resolutions that took immediate effect. Corona Resort & Casino on Phu Quoc Island received permanent approval to admit Vietnamese nationals and stands at the centre of this change. Only the casino that was allowed to accept local players under the original pilot scheme was Corona, already before this happened. Indefinite access suggests regulators feel satisfied with the compliance record and the economic contribution it provides.

Two New Five-Year Pilots Receive Approval

The Grand Ho Tram Resort and the planned Van Don integrated resort can accept Vietnamese citizens for gambling through two new five-year pilot programmes that got government approval in addition. Economic benefits, social impacts and effectiveness of existing safeguards will be assessed by authorities through pilots before deciding whether to broaden or restrict access further, say officials. Expansion happens, but entry conditions stay tightly controlled despite this change. 21 years old minimum age, legal competence, and minimum income requirements, including a stable monthly income of VND 10 million (€370) or higher-grade personal income tax subject status, must be met by Vietnamese nationals. A 24-hour pass costs VND 1 million (€40), or a monthly pass costs VND 25 million (€1,010), with entry fees remaining unchanged. Formal objection by family members can bar individuals from entry, and this option still exists.

Approval Comes Nearly a Year After Waiting

A period of uncertainty for domestic gamblers preceded this policy shift. Midnight on 31 December 2024 ended Vietnam’s initial pilot programme, while further evaluation stayed pending. Legal options for casino gaming within the country became almost nonexistent for Vietnamese citizens during the pause, though foreign passport holders continued getting admitted. Regional priorities get reflected broadly through renewed focus on Phu Quoc. Le Thanh Long who serves as Deputy Prime Minister, asked the Ministry of Finance to review casino access formalisation for Vietnamese citizens as part of economic growth efforts in the Mekong Delta region. High-level discussions involving Communist Party General Secretary To Lam and provincial leaders from Kien Giang and An Giang preceded this request.

Phu Quoc development mechanisms, including special administrative unit proposals, received exploration instructions for officials aimed at strengthening investor and tourist appeal. Additional resort inclusion is expected to improve project viability materially from an economic perspective. Planned investment of VND 51.5 trillion ($2.16 billion) and a 70-year concession define Van Don casino, which sought local-player access for a long time to underpin the business case. Vietnam’s largest integrated resort, The Grand Ho Tram, undergoes $1 billion expansion that increases its capacity to more than 9,000 hotel rooms. Regulated inclusion shift appears cautious but clear as Vietnam balances social concerns against tourism growth, investment needs and citizen demand realities, say analysts.

SiGMA South Asia runs from 30 Nov – 02 Dec 2025, and participation becomes available. 5,000 delegates, 100+ speakers, and 1,000 operators gather under one roof, making Colombo the gaming heart. High-value traffic, game-changing insights, and unforgettable networking create space where new markets meet new horizons.