Inside Asian Gaming

IAG MAY 2022年5月 亞博匯 53 Inside Asian Gaming: There were recently reports that Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance wants to extend its pilot program for locals by two years and add two more casinos into the mix – one in Da Nang City and one on Hon Tre Island, Khanh Hoa Province. What does the potential addition of these two casinos tell us? Shaun McCamley: I think it’s a very positive story that the Ministry of Finance is looking to at least move in this direction, however we also need to keep in mind when we hear these stories that there is a lot left of that road to run, because as powerful as the Ministry of Finance is, the real power is with the Politburo and if the Politburo is not on board then nothing is going to happen. And as we’ve seen in the past, the Politburo is not supportive of gambling in any form. I’m hoping this is an indication that things are changing, but I wouldn’t be hanging my hat on it. IAG: The pilot program launched in 2019 with Corona Resort & Casino on Phu Quoc, while a second casino named to the program at the same time in Van Don Province still hasn’t opened. Have we learnt much from the first three years? SM: It’s been very difficult to take a positive overview, but I look at it from a high level. Really, the government has always been conservative in its approach to gambling and to the provision of gambling to the local population. Corona and Van Don province to the north were chosen because they are quite isolated and difficult for locals to get to regularly. For example, it’s a 40-minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc and a 40-minute drive from there to IAG：近期有報道稱越南財政部希望將針 對當地人賭場的試點計劃延長兩年，並 在其中增加兩家賭場，一家在峴港市， 一家在慶和省的Hon Tre島上。這次宣 佈再增加兩家賭場意味著甚麼？ Shaun McCamley（SC）： 我認為這是 一個非常積極的勢頭。財政部至少希望 朝著這個方向推進。但須謹記，聽到這 些決定和實際事情發生之間還有一段很 長的路要走。雖然財政部也有權力，但 Shaun McCamley 焦點關注