Analyst: Location critical for Vietnam’s casino plans

Vietnam should put locations for new casinos high on its priority list if it wants to appeal to investors, experts said.

In a note, Union Gaming Securities analyst Grant Govertsen said in order for the Asian country to attract major international casino operators, “the locations would be critical,” among other things.

“Depending on whether or not the government is willing to settle for less, and in the context of the current China macro, it is hard to imagine a scenario where there will be significant international interest on the part of the major players… unless an IR [integrated resort] license (with local allowed) is available for downtown Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City,” said analyst Grant Govertsen in a note.

In addition, Govertsen said the government will also have “to dramatically lower the minimum investment requirement (currently set at US$4 billion), as well as lower gaming tax rates (currently 35 percent) in order [for operations] to be competitive in the region.”