Sports betting 'needs the right move'

Voters of Binh Thuan province recently petitioned the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to study and advise the Government to submit to the National Assembly for consideration and amendment of the Law on Exercise and Sports. According to voters, the current law allows sports betting, but this content is easily exploited to violate the law, not in accordance with Article 321 on "Gambling crimes" of the 2015 Penal Code.

In response, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that with the trend of international integration, the type of entertainment business with betting elements based on sports competition has been introduced to many Asian countries and developed. quite strong. Including Formula 1 car racing, horse racing, concave bike racing, football.

Many governments soon set a requirement to legalize sports betting in order to strictly manage and limit negative impacts on society. Sports betting meets the entertainment needs of a part of the people; state budget revenue, as an investment resource for the society, including in the field of sports.

However, the sports betting business is a specific and relatively new type of entertainment service in Vietnam; management agencies do not have much supervisory experience, so in the initial stage of implementation, "appropriate steps should be taken".

"This model in Vietnam will be deployed on the principle of prudence, the roadmap from low to high, betting products from simple to complex, perfectly suitable in management, administration and supervision of the State. ", the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said.

From the experience of many countries, the Ministry believes that it is necessary to have a pilot phase and perfect the legal framework, improve experience in management, supervision and organization of business activities. This gives society a period to gradually adapt, change awareness, and have a positive view of modern entertainment activities.

Citing regulations in the Law on Exercise and Sports, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that sports betting is a conditional business activity, subject to strict control by competent state agencies. Enterprises are only allowed to operate this type of business when they are granted a certificate of eligibility.

Sports business activities must be transparent, objective and honest, ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of the participating parties; The currency used is Vietnam Dong. The Law also assigns the Government to decide on the list of sports activities that are allowed to do sports betting business and to detail the sports betting business.

According to Decree No. 06/2017, the Government allows the business of betting on horse and greyhound racing and piloting international football betting.

The Law on Physical Training and Sports was passed by the National Assembly in 2006, amended and supplemented in 2018.