Gambling Places Raided

More than two hundreds people, including foreigners alleged to have been organizers, were arrested late last month during a police raid on gambling at several top hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau.

Eighty one Vietnamese were caught betting against machines at the hotels when armed police stormed in. While all the places were licensed to provide electronic gaming services they were allowed to entertain foreign-passport holder only.

Nine foreigners (Chinese, Malaysian and Korean) were detained by the police for organizing gambling, said colonel Hoang Tan Viet, of the Ministry of Police, adding, however, that no foreign players had been arrested.

Among the arrested were 136 Vietnamese people working in the gaming centres. Milions of dollars in cash were confiscated.

The police said the foreigners had co-operated with “Brothers” of the well-known Nam Cam Mafia boss in organizing the illegal gambling.

The raid was an effort to clamp down on organized crimes related to “social evils”, said the police. The case has been forwarded to local prosecutors under the charges of organizing gambling.

At the moment, in Vietnam, there is only on casino in Hai Phong, but there are more than 40 places that provide what is termed electronic-gaming-with-prizes, where players can place bet against machines only.

The places raid include the three hotels Duxton, Legend and Equatorial and the Food Center Saigon in HoChi Minh City and DIC star hotel in Vung tau City.

From Thanh Nien and Tuoi tre Newspaper - The Guide

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