Manila, Philippines – February 14, 2017: In mid-January 2017, Vietnam finally lifted its long-standing ban on domestic gambling, allowing Vietnamese locals to enter select casinos in the country.

The decree, due to come into effect on March 15, is a monumental victory for the gaming industry in Vietnam and the wider ASEAN market which is seeing new opportunities by the day.

“I’m happy to see that the Vietnam government has finally moved forward and is implementing a trial period allowing Vietnamese nationals into selected casinos within its borders,” commented Shaun McCamley of Global Market Advisors in an interview with Asia Gaming Brief, organizers of the ASEAN Gaming Summit 2017.

“There are huge opportunities in Vietnam in 2017 for local and foreign interests,” added Albert Climent of Bluesea Gaming. “Besides the massive integrated casino resort projects, hopefully by first half of 2017 a new horse racing and betting decree is expected to come out…. This will open up a whole new different spectrum of investment opportunities in the region, especially those related to horse racing and high street betting shops,” he said.