Most lawmakers support the issuance of
a specialised decree on
prize-wining gaming services, but
want to tighten conditions for opening a gaming service facility to minimise impacts
on society.
In a meeting last week of the
National Assembly’s Standing Committee discussing the draft decree proposed by
the Ministry of Finance (MoF), most deputies admitted that such services had
significantly contributed to encourage foreign direct investment and tourism
development Vietnam, as well contributed to state budget and created jobs for
local workers.
They also proposed the government
to complete the draft soon in order that the new decree could be applied from
January 1, 2013. However, lawmakers suggested tight regulations on conditions
for investors to obtain investment licences in this sensitive business.
Under the draft decree, investors
can obtain a licence for running an electronic gaming facility if it meets
criteria such as running a hotel or resort with at least five-star rating, and
if the gaming facility is separated from other hotel facilities. The hotel or
resort must be the one regularly receiving a large number of foreign guests.
Critics noted that the draft
decree now under the government’s consideration does not limit the number of
electronic gaming service facilities nationwide, unlike the practices of
Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and many other countries.
Since 1992, when electronic
gaming services were first allowed in Vietnam, 43 electronic gaming facilities
have been licenced nationwide, according to the MoF. The facilities were mostly
licenced at hotels in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the two biggest cities of
Vietnam.
Nguyen Kim Thoa, chairman of the
National Assembly’s Defense and Security Committee, said the decree would have
to limit the number of gaming facilities nationwide as this business was not
encouraged in Vietnam.
“It is likely that electronic
gaming services would develop widespread after regulations under the draft
decree are applied, not only big cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh but also any
other places with five-star hotels,” said Thoa.
Although the draft decree
maintains banning Vietnamese from entering gaming facilities, Thoa’s reaction
raises concern that a boom in electronic gaming services could be beyond the
control of the government and lead to unexpected social consequences.
Ksor Phuoc, chairman of the NA
Ethics Council, said these electronic gaming facilties should be far from
residential areas to avoid negative impacts on local people. Regarding the
ratio of electronic gaming machines in each facility, the MoF proposed to
regulate one machine for each five rooms.
Tao Van Nghe, general director of
five-star Rex Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, said that drafters needed to explain
for service providers about the reason for this regulation.
“Under the draft regulation, the
number of our gaming machines exceeds the would-be permitted ratio,” Nghe said.
“So what will we have to do with tens of excessive machines?”
But Phung Quoc Hien, chairman of
the NA Finance and Budget Committee, said the ratio should be higher, meaning
that the total number of gaming machines in a facility would be further
limited.
Hien also said that members of
the committee suggested shortening the licence duration of a gaming facility to
five years from 10 years as drafted, but raising the number of regular and
random inspections from once every five years to once per 1-3 years.
“Electronic gaming services are
quite new in Vietnam so new regulations must ensure strict management on this
business,” said the National Assembly’s Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.
Nguyen Trang | vir.com.vn
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