According to VCCI, the proposed increase in the daily individual betting cap from VND 1 million under the 2017 decree to VND 10 million in the draft is a positive move, reflecting the rise in average per capita income.

However, industry experts and business representatives argue that even this new cap remains too low for the realities of the market and fails to support the effective operation of a legal betting model.

In developed countries, most betting revenue is generated from a small group of high-stakes bettors.

Meanwhile, illegal betting platforms in Vietnam impose no betting limits, drawing players toward more flexible options and undermining legal channels. This leads to significant state revenue losses and weakens the regulatory framework.

Therefore, businesses suggest raising the cap to VND 100 million (USD 4,100) per person per day, or at the very least allowing companies to apply the VND 10 million (USD 410) cap per product rather than as a total daily limit.

VCCI believes that higher limits would allow legal operators to serve high-spending customers and better compete with illegal markets. The government could simultaneously implement control mechanisms, such as player identification, financial monitoring, and risk alerts, to mitigate negative impacts.

Adjusting trial period start date

Regarding the pilot program timeline for international football betting, the draft currently stipulates a five-year trial period starting from the date the operator is granted a business eligibility certificate.

However, VCCI pointed out that after receiving certification, companies need additional time to complete technical systems, secure licensing agreements, recruit staff, and make other preparations before officially launching operations.

Starting the pilot period from the certification date could leave businesses with insufficient time to operate and evaluate their models effectively. This may hinder capital recovery and performance assessment for both operators and regulators.

Therefore, VCCI recommends revising the rule so that “the trial period begins from the date the enterprise officially launches international football betting operations, as confirmed in writing by the regulatory authority.” This approach ensures accurate assessment of the pilot model’s performance.

Call to reduce state budget contribution to 5%

The draft decree also proposes a mandatory minimum contribution to the central government budget of 10% of gross gaming revenue (GGR), which is revenue from ticket sales minus payouts. This contribution is in addition to other tax obligations, including a 30% special consumption tax and a 10% VAT.

VCCI noted that, according to industry feedback, the proposed 10% contribution is excessive compared to international standards and would diminish the competitiveness of legal operators against unregulated platforms that are free of any tax obligations.

Including all tax and fiscal contributions, legal enterprises would face over 40% of GGR in payments, a burden particularly heavy during the early stages of business when technology and operations require significant investment.

To address this, VCCI recommends reducing the central budget contribution to 5% of GGR during the pilot phase.

“This is a reasonable level that allows businesses enough margin to survive and grow, while still ensuring state revenue. Once the market matures, the government can adjust contribution rates gradually. This flexible policy would encourage serious, long-term investment rather than short-term profit-seeking,” the VCCI document states.

Nguyen Le