Vietnam Puts Former Officials on Trial in $107M Gambling Scandal

The suspects reportedly spent exorbitant sums in unregulated games of chance, abusing their positions to evade the nation’s strict anti-gambling lawsImage Source: Shutterstock.com

TheHanoi People’s Court has commenced one of the most significant illegal gambling cases in Vietnam over the past few years, drawing national attention for its scope, its participants, and the staggering sums involved. One hundred and forty-onedefendants stand accused of organizing and participating in an underground gambling ring worth nearly VND 2.6 trillion($98 million), centered at the King Clubin Hanoi’s Pullman Hotel.

The Illegal Operation Boasted Unprecedented Scale

Some of the most high-profile defendants in this case include Ho Dai Dung, former vice chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee, and Ngo Ngoc Duc, former party secretary of Hoa Binh City. The trial is expected to lastabout two weeksunder the supervision of Judge Luu Ngoc Canh. A guilty sentence for similar crimes can result in over ten yearsin prison.

The case began in 2024 when investigators from theMinistry of Public Securityraided the King Club andarrested 14 individualsfor gambling and organizing games of chance. Authorities confiscated nearly 13 billion dong($495,000), along with various foreign currencies. However, what initially seemed like a discreet gambling operation gradually unraveled into acomplex networkinvolving former officials, business figures, and celebrities from across the country.

According to court documents, the King Club had a legal license to run aforeigner-only gambling facility. However, its management was subcontracted to HS Development Vietnam Company, run by a South Korean national,Kim In Sung. Investigators claim that Kim and his collaborators took advantage of loopholesin Vietnam’s licensing system to allow domestic players, thus transforming the facility into a high-sngakes casinofor the Vietnamese elite.

Patrons Routinely Wagered Exorbitant Sums

The indictment paints a vivid picture of extravagance and excess. Former vice-chairman Ho Dai Dung, known as “Mr. Michael,” reportedly played95 times from February to June 2024, losing over $7 millionin the process. Records show he usually wagered between$4,900 and $331,000, at one time losing over$759,000. On the other hand, Ngo Ngoc Duc, known by the alias “Mr. Lucky One,” allegedly wagered$4.2 millionacross 74 visits, losing around $284,000.

Prosecutors note that Kim In Sung, who they believe ran the entire operation, allegedly earned $9.2 millionfrom illegal activities. Only five individuals out of the 141 defendants stand accused of organizing the gambling. Three of them are South Koreans. The court will spend the following weekscarefully examining the evidence to determine individual culpability and sentencing.

While Vietnam remains the jurisdiction with thestrictest gambling lawsin Asia, the government has cautiously started torelax its grip. Pilot programs currently allow wealthy locals to gamble in certain casinos, albeit withsignificant restrictions. However, this newest case indicates that illegal gambling will not be tolerated.