Tran Quang Chieu, permanent member of the National Assembly (NA) Committee for Financial and Budgetary Affairs made the remark in a recent interview given to a Radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV) reporter about management of income from winning casino games and football betting on the fringes of the ongoing 8th session of the 13th NA.

Tran Quang Chieu, permanent member of the National Assembly (NA) Committee for Financial and Budgetary Affairs.

The Ministry of Finance is drafting a decree on casino, under which Vietnamese citizens can play casino games. What do you think about this?

Mr. Chieu: There should be compulsory conditions for Vietnamese to enter the casino. In the initial period, only those having an ABTC card is entitled to enter the casino. Due to a lack of management experience and different habits, it is impossible to allow all to play casino games. At first, casino game should be open to only those who meet certain background and financial criteria so as to prevent social unrest.

According to the draft decree, casinos are to be open to Vietnamese citizens aged 21 getting a monthly income of VND15 million. Is the condition strong enough?

Mr. Chieu: It is very difficult to control the income and know how exactly he/she enjoy earnings of VND15 million/month as bank accounts are personal secrets. On the other hand, they can lend money to fill up their accounts and then return their money back. In my opinion, using the ABTC is the best solution for the time being, and then we will gradually expand criteria for casino game players later.

We do not encourage opening casinos, but exempt game winners from personnel income?

Mr. Quang Chieu: In fact, personal income is not taxed but taxed income has increased from 30% to 35%. 5% of taxed earnings is equivalent to the amount of personnel income. International experience also shows that no country applies personal income tax on casino because players can suffer loss from casino games.

As for the lottery, we are now still collecting tax for winners?

Mr Chieu: Many nations no longer have lottery but e-betting. In many southern provinces, tax collection from the lottery account for roughly 30% of local revenue. However, most lottery players are not high income earners. Currently, only big winners are required to pay tax while it is impossible to collect tax from smaller prize winners with hundred thousands of VND.

What about football betting? What measure should be taken to avoid the messy stories whenever the tournament seasons come?

We also put forth the issue in the Government decree, yet there has been no law-regulated document on the matter due to limited management experience. I hope, the matter will be surely stipulated in the future but the question is the appropriate time.

But if the problem is not deal with as soon as possible, will the current status of "foreign currency bleeding" become increasingly serious?

This is a major problem. It is imperative to include the matter of football betting in the management framework and clarify when it is included in the government decree. The Finance Ministry will consider the issue in the coming time.

What is the right time in your opinion?

Mr Chieu: First, for international football betting, I really want to put this in the decree as soon as possible and the government needs to scrutinize the management of the matter through technical measures and closer cooperation with competent agencies.

Thank you very much.

VOV/VNN