A Poker club in Ho Chi Minh City has been discovered organizing illegal gambling under the guise of mind sport to pocket hefty profits.

A probe by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper revealed that the illegal activities took place at River Poker Club on Quoc Huong Street in Thao Ward, Thu Duc City.

Instead of playing Poker as a mind sport, the players participated in so-called tournaments to win prizes worth up to VND100 million (US$4,000).

This club, which has only operated for two months, organizes about four to five such tournaments a day.

Undercover reporters arrived at the venue in late October and was asked by two receptionists to present their IDs in order to register for a new membership card.

Without an ID, non-members had to be accompanied by an existing member of the club, the receptionists said.

At the counter, a man exchanged VND900,000 ($36) for chips by wiring money to a bank account.

This man joined a table of six players and left about 20 minutes later after losing all of his chips.

The chips were plastic, in different colors, and printed with different points such as 5,000, 1,000, 500, and 100.

Players were required to exchange for chips worth VND1.5-4.5 million ($60-180) to participate in the tourneys.

The club had a total of six playing tables, with each match lasting two to eight minutes.

Information on the tournaments was displayed on a screen, with the highest prize worth more than VND90 million ($3,600).

Advertisements for these tournaments were posted on the club’s Facebook page on a regular basis.

Simple procedure

Tran Phuong Nam, vice-chairman of the People’s Committee in Thao Dien Ward, said that the administration officially recognized River Poker Club on August 5.

The procedure needed to establish a Poker club is quite simple, Nam continued, adding that the club only needs to present a document providing it is a member of the Vietnam Bridge & Poker Association, make a list of club members, and register for the recognition of local authorities.

The club must also meet requirements on fire safety, the official stated.

A delegation of officials in Thao Dien Ward and Thu Duc City, in coordination with police officers, inspected River Poker Club on Saturday.

About 40 people, including five foreigners, were playing Poker at the time.

The delegation confiscated multiple card decks and chips and escorted the players to the police station to collect statements and check their activities.

Nguyen Nam Nhan, an official at the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, confirmed that the agency has not licensed any Poker tournament.

Poker clubs are not allowed to collect money from players and organize tournaments with cash prizes, Nhan elaborated.

Police in Ho Chi Minh City previously busted several Poker clubs for organizing gambling between 2018 and 2020.

In December 2020, the municipal Department of Culture and Sports proposed that local authorities stop granting permits and recognizing Bridge and Poker clubs.

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