How is online football betting legal?

Online football betting is one of the issues frequently mentioned by the media in recent years. Many families have suffered financial losses and debts due to football betting. Although Vietnamese law does not strictly prohibit football betting, this activity is only allowed to take place within the limits set by the law, including age restrictions and the permissible amount of bets. Many readers wonder how football betting is considered legal according to the current regulations. They also question the threshold at which the responsibility becomes a criminal offense. Additionally, they are curious about the organizations authorized to organize football betting in Vietnam. This article by Wagering website aims to provide answers to these questions and offer valuable information to the readers.

Legal basis

• Decree 06/2017/NĐ-CP

What is football betting?

Football betting refers to the act of using money or other assets to place bets on predicting the outcome of an ongoing or upcoming event that has not yet concluded. It can also be understood as a monetary bet on the winning or losing scores of a sports match.

Football betting involves using assets, mostly money, to place bets on predicting the outcome of a football match that is ongoing, upcoming, or has not yet concluded.

Forms of football betting

Currently, there are various forms of football betting available. The most prominent one is online football betting, which provides multiple betting options for players. This increases the chances of winning. So, what are the popular forms of football betting that attract many people's attention nowadays?

• Betting on the full match result in football: Betting on the full match result is a popular form of football betting. In this type of bet, the player predicts whether their chosen team will win, lose, or draw compared to the opposing team.
• Half-time betting: Instead of betting on the entire football match, players can choose to place bets solely on the first half of the game. Options for this type of bet include predicting which team will win the first half, which team will lose the first half, or whether the first half will end in a draw.
• Multiple-match betting (parlay) in football: If you prefer not to bet on a single match, you can choose to place bets on multiple matches simultaneously. This is known as parlay betting in football.

Forms of football betting

Which organization is authorized to organize football betting in Vietnam?

Since the effective date of Decree 06/2017/NĐ-CP, international football betting business has been regulated and legalized in Vietnam. Organizing entities must comply with the conditions and obtain a Business Certification according to Article 38 of Decree 06/2017/NĐ-CP (amended by Decree 151/2018/NĐ-CP) as follows:

Only qualified businesses are allowed to engage in betting activities. After completing the registration procedures, businesses must apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for betting business.

• For international football betting, the government will allow a pilot program for a period of 5 years, after which the government will evaluate whether the business can continue its operations.
• Pilot businesses in international football betting must have a minimum charter capital of 1,000 billion VND and meet other regulations.
• Investment plans for accurate, secure, and stable technological systems, technical equipment, and business operation software.
• Feasible plans for international football betting business, methods of distributing betting tickets, and appropriate ticket issuance locations as stipulated in this Decree and the law.
• Commitment to community support

The selection of businesses for organizing this type of business must go through a bidding process to choose the pilot business for international football betting.

How to participate in football betting legally?

What is the minimum age to participate in football betting?

The players are a difficult-to-control group, so those who participate in legal football betting must meet the conditions specified in Article 7 of Decree 06/2017/NĐ-CP, as follows:

Players must be 21 years of age or older and have full legal capacity as defined by the law.

In addition, the following individuals are not allowed to participate in betting:

• Those under 21 years of age.
• Officials, administrators, employees, and relatives of officials and administrators of betting businesses.
• Members of the Racing Supervisory Council and relatives of these members participating in betting on races.
• Jockeys, players, referees, and their families participating in betting.
• Individuals who are prohibited by betting businesses from participating in betting.
• Individuals who are under investigation for criminal liability, have completed their sentence without having their criminal records expunged.
• Individuals who are under investigation, subject to educational measures in the commune, ward, town, and are placed in correctional educational institutions or compulsory rehabilitation facilities.

How much money is considered legal for football betting?

Participants in football betting must place a minimum bet of 10,000 Vietnamese dong (ten thousand dong) and the maximum bet per player in a day for each betting product at a betting business is 1,000,000 Vietnamese dong (one million dong).

The Ministry of Finance, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Public Security, submits to the government a decision to adjust the minimum and maximum betting limits in each period.

In summary, Vietnam has legalized football betting, but not all forms of betting are allowed. Players who want to participate in football betting are only allowed to bet at licensed international football betting establishments, and they must be 21 years of age or older, with betting amounts ranging from 10,000 dong to 1 million dong per play.

What is the criminal liability for betting on football with a certain amount of money?

Based on Article 321 of the 2015 Penal Code as amended and supplemented by Clause 120 of Article 1 of the 2017 Penal Code, the offense of gambling is defined as follows:

1. Anyone who engages in illegal gambling, regardless of the form, involving an amount of money or property worth from 5,000,000 to less than 50,000,000 dong or less than 5,000,000 dong but has been administratively fined for this act or violated the provisions of Article 322 of this Code or has been convicted of this offense or the offense specified in Article 322 of this Code, with a criminal record that has not been expunged and continues to violate, shall be fined from 20,000,000 to 100,000,000 dong, subjected to non-custodial reform for up to 3 years, or imprisoned for 6 months to 3 years.

2. If the offense falls into one of the following cases, the person shall be imprisoned for 3 to 7 years:

It has a professional nature. Money or assets used for gambling worth over 50,000,000 dong. Using the internet, computer networks, telecommunications networks, electronic devices to commit the offense. Dangerous recidivism.

3. The offender may also be fined from 10,000,000 to 50,000,000 dong.

Furthermore, according to Clause 2 of Article 28 of Decree 144/2019/ND-CP, the penalties for illegal gambling are as follows:

A fine from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 dong for one of the following acts:

• Engaging in illegal gambling through forms such as shaking dice, phỏm card game, tôm tôm (a gambling game), tu lo kho (a gambling game), three-card poker, three-cay poker, four-color card game, red-black card game, chess positions, Indian six-card stud, 13-card gray discarding, 13-card progression, cockfighting, or tai xiu (a gambling game) or other forms with the intention of gambling with money, assets, or valuables.
• Engaging in illegal gambling using machines or electronic games.
• Engaging in illegal betting in sports competitions, recreational activities, or other activities.

Therefore, you will face criminal liability if your betting amount is 5,000,000 or less but you have previously been administratively fined for this offense. If you do not fall under the above cases, you will be subject to administrative penalties for illegal gambling. Specifically, you may be fined from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 dong.

Vietnam has legalized football betting

Contact information

The above is the content related to the issue of "How is football betting legal." We hope the article is helpful to readers. With a team of experienced lawyers and legal experts, Lawyer X will provide legal services such as unemployment insurance files. We are always ready to listen to any inquiries from our valued customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is playing sports betting on a website considered a prohibited activity in the provision of electronic gaming services?

According to Clause 3 of Article 3 of Circular 24/2014/TT-BTTTT, which regulates prohibited activities for bookmaker websites, the following behaviors are prohibited: exploiting the provision and use of electronic gaming services for gambling, organizing gambling, fraud, illegal business activities, or other acts in violation of the law. Therefore, playing sports betting on a website is considered a prohibited activity in the provision of electronic gaming services.

Is it okay to bet on football with a small amount of money?

In the case of betting on football with a small amount of money (under 5,000,000 dong), participants may be subject to administrative fines as stipulated in Decree 144/2021/ND-CP. Thus, if engaging in football betting even with a small amount of money, the offender may be fined from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 dong. Additionally, the offender may also have confiscated items, means, and money obtained from football betting.

At what amount of money does football betting become a criminal liability?

Under Article 321 of the 2015 Criminal Code, as amended by Article 120 of the Law Amending the Criminal Code 2017, the offense of gambling is defined as follows: anyone who engages in illegal gambling in any form, with losses of money or assets valued from 5,000,000 dong to below 50,000,000 dong, or below 5,000,000 dong but has been administratively fined for this offense or the offense specified in Article 322 of this Code, or has been convicted of this offense or the offense specified in Article 322 of this Code and the conviction has not been expunged but still commits violations, shall be subject to a fine ranging from 20,000,000 dong to 100,000,000 dong, non-custodial rehabilitation for up to 3 years, or imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Now you should have the answer to the question of whether online sports betting is legal. Participating in betting at domestic bookmakers using traditional methods is highly likely to be investigated and penalized by the authorities. Therefore, if you have a passion for sports and football, it is advisable to choose foreign-based bookmakers to place your bets. Wishing you good luck in life!

See more: How to play sports betting on mobile phones.