South-central Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa Province has asked authorities to intensify their inspections of businesses which operate prize-based gaming facilities for foreigners.

Nguyen Thanh Ha, chief of the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee Office, announced on Wednesday that the committee had issued an official directive for the provincial Department of Public Security to lead the inspections in coordination with the Department of Finance, the Department of Culture and Sports, and the Tax Department. 

The focus will be on surprise inspections of businesses operating electronic games with prizes for foreigners.

The Khanh Hoa Department of Finance reported that nine prize-based gaming enterprises in the province are licensed by the Ministry of Finance.

Since 2022, the ministry has conducted regular inspections of eight of these businesses.

One enterprise has yet to be inspected, though it routinely submits reports to the provincial finance department, detailing the number and types of gaming machines, prize-offering machines, and other business operations.

As a haven for international visitors to Vietnam, Khanh Hoa welcomed its 3.6 millionth foreign tourist this year on October 1, marking a 147.9-percent increase compared to the same period last year and exceeding its 2024 target by 20 percent, according to the provincial Department of Tourism.

As reported by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in May 2023, police in Khanh Hoa had uncovered and arrested 27 individuals involved in illegal gambling at Gameclub Lucky, located in the basement of the Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa in Nha Trang City, in April the same year. 

According to police, this facility was being operated by Jo Wan Su from South Korea and Ngo Van Chuyen under the guise of offering electronic games with prizes while actually facilitating gambling for money for foreigners.

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