Vietnam has become the latest Southeast Asian country to consider gambling, despite its historic aversion. With Thailand poised to become a major local powerhouse, Vietnamese lawmakers also decided to mull over casino opportunities.

Vietnam Eyes Huge Casino Resort

The proposal, which was submitted by the Ministry of Finance to the Prime Minister, seeks approval for the creation of a casino resort. The planned property, dubbed the Van Don casino project, would be located in the Van Don district within the Quang Ninh province where it could become a major driver of tourism and economic growth.

Per the proposal, the resort would cover roughly 244 hectares and will cost roughly $2.2 billion. If approved, the casino would have to be constructed within nine years from the date of the approval. Once complete, it will have a maximum operational period of 70 years.

Locals Would Be Allowed to Play

The on-site casino is planned to remain open to tourists and locals alike. To that end, the Ministry of Finance suggested a pilot scheme that would allow locals to play in accordance with local regulations. This could help cement the planned property as a successful resort and entertainment complex as it would not be entirely dependent on foreign money.

This proposal mirrors the advice MGM Resorts recently gave to the Thai government, encouraging lawmakers to adopt a competitive casino tax rate and allow locals to play.

The Ministry of Finance in Vietnam, meanwhile, also recommended authorizing the People’s Committee in the Quang Ninh province to choose a suitable casino resort investor in accordance with local laws and needs. Per the proposal, the investor would have to contribute roughly $296 million of the total sum for the development. The rest will be financed through loans.

The Casino Would Contribute to the Province’s Economic Growth

While the proposed entertainment resort will be costly, the Ministry of Finance and the Quang Ninh authorities are certain that it will pay off in the long term. According to proponents of the property, it will greatly contribute to the Van Don special administrative zone.

Additionally, projections imply that the casino resort would contribute approximately $10 billion to the budget over its 70 years of operation.

Authorities Busted an Illegal Gambling Ring

Earlier this year, Vietnamese authorities cracked down on a huge gambling ring, arresting several people in the process. The illegal crypto gambling operation was reportedly operated by four siblings. In addition to the masterminds behind the scheme, the authorities also arrested 30 other people.

Relax Gaming, a leading iGaming content supplier and aggregator, has changed the life of yet another player. According to the company’s announcement, the fortunate fan won the EUR 2.9 million (approximately $3.3 million) Dream Drop Mega Jackpot from a EUR 0.30 spin ($0.34).

The 21^st Dream Drop Mega Jackpot Was Awarded

Relax Gaming, which supplies games to a long list of international gambling operators, announced that this latest prize was won by a lucky player in Hungary. The supplier further elaborated that the jackpot win occurred at Vegas.hu, the country’s first legal online casino.

According to Relax Gaming, the lucky player was firing up the reels of Money Train Origins Dream Drop, which it described as a “high-octane release that blends the gritty aesthetic of the original Money Train with the legendary Dream Drop jackpot.” The game was released in June 2023 and, as its title suggests, sports Relax’s signature jackpot mechanic.

This was notably the 21^st Dream Drop Mega Jackpot awarded by Relax Gaming, which has been gradually increasing its portfolio of jackpot titles. It came shortly after Relax Gaming upgraded the Dream Drop network, enhancing the recipe with fast-paced daily jackpots.

The Casino Is Proud to Have Awarded First Dream Drop Jackpot in Hungary

Relax Gaming congratulated the lucky player on their win, calling it “another brilliant moment” for both the company and the winner. Martin Stålros, Relax Gaming’s chief executive officer added that he was very happy that the jackpot was won in Hungary.

We’re especially pleased to see the jackpot drop at Vegas.hu, a key partner and a trailblazer in regulated online gaming in Hungary. With the addition of Daily Jackpots to our network, Dream Drop continues to lead the way in offering the most exciting jackpot experience in the industry.

Martin Stålros, CEO, Relax Gaming

Laszlo Siba, Vegas.hu’s online casino director, was likewise pleased with the win, saying that his team is stoked to have awarded the first Dream Drop Mega Jackpot in Hungary.

Delivering standout moments like this is exactly what we strive for. Long may Relax Gaming’s innovative content continue to engage and excite our players, especially the Dream Drop series!

Laszlo Siba, online casino director, Vegas.hu

The Recent Prize Was the Latest in a Chain of Life-Changing Jackpots

Earlier this year, a Paraguayan player at cryptospin.io won the 19^th Dream Drop jackpot, securing $3 million on a wager of just $2. Then, on March 10, a player on sportsbet.io scooped up the 20^th Dream Drop jackpot, which stood at $3.1 million.

NetGaming, a leading supplier of solutions to the iGaming industry, announced that it has secured a license to operate in Pennsylvania. This will allow the company to expand its North American footprint, capitalizing on the region’s fast-paced market.

Pennsylvania, Get Ready – NetGaming Has Arrived

NetGaming confirmed the launch in a post on LinkedIn, saying that it has secured an Interactive Gaming Manufacturer License in the Commonwealth. The company described this as a “major leap forward” in its North American journey, expressing excitement about the opportunity to tackle one of North America’s largest gaming markets.

NetGaming teased that fans in the Keystone State can look forward to playing its cutting-edge titles very soon, promising that they will appear on the platforms of some of the most respected operators available.

The company reiterated its ambition to grow its North American footprint and reach many local fans. It also thanked everyone who made this launch possible.

This achievement reflects our unstoppable momentum and unwavering dedication to expanding in the regulated North American iGaming market. A huge shoutout to our powerhouse team and trusted partners — this wouldn’t have happened without your passion and drive.

NetGaming statement

NetGaming Pursues Further Growth in the Americas

The launch in Pennsylvania is consistent with NetGaming’s relentless ambition to grow in the Americas. The provider’s first foray into the US was in 2023 when the company secured a license in Michigan. Since then, NetGaming has been working hard to secure entries in other states and eventually launched in the Canadian province of Ontario too.

Nowadays, NetGaming continues to experience rapid growth and currently boasts integrations with BetMGM, Caesars, and other top-tier operators in the Americas.

The company’s desire to champion innovation in North America was further reflected in its recent participation in the SBC Summit Americas. This was the company’s inaugural participation in a North American industry fair and provided it with key networking opportunities and a venue to showcase its latest products.

Speaking of products, NetGaming continues to disrupt the market with unparalleled games that change how players perceive casino gaming. Two of the company’s latest titles include the beautifully- crafted Fireball Inferno Tiki slot, as well as Zeus’s Thunderbolt Plinko, a game that brought a mythological twist to the classic ball-drop format.

Simon Thomas, the executive chair and majority shareholder of The Hippodrome Casino in the UK has weighed in on the country’s ongoing gambling reforms, expressing optimism about upcoming changes to how land-based casinos are regulated.

DCMS Proposes Key Changes to How Casinos Are Regulated

In an interview with gaming news outlet NEXT.io, Thomas weighed in on the planned overhaul of Great Britain’s land-based sector. The proposed changes, which are consistent with the Gambling Act white paper, were just submitted to parliament by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The DCMS’s Casinos (Gaming Machines and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations proposal envisions certain changes that, according to Thomas, would make Britain’s casino sector able to compete with the country’s growing iGaming space.

Among other things, the proposed overhaul would raise the cap on Category B machines to 80 per venue. At the same time, the minimum gaming-table area for “small” 2005-Act casinos will be reduced. The changes furthermore propose setting a 5:1 machine-to-table ratio for both 1968 and 2005-Act properties.

Additionally, sports betting will be allowed across all land-based casinos, providing properties with access to an important revenue stream.

Simon Applauded the DCMS’s Delivery

In his interview with NEXT.io, Thomas regretted that the casino industry has been “disadvantaged” for years and expressed excitement about the changes. While he admitted that the changes are somewhat “modest” compared to international competitors, he was convinced that they would make brick-and-mortar properties more competitive than they currently are.

Thomas also asserted that the policy amendments would be an important economic stimulus to city centers and high streets as businesses would finally be allowed to modernize and innovate.

Casinos are a vital pillar of the UK’s leisure, hospitality and tourism sector. The industry is delighted to welcome these modest modernization reforms. They’re not revolutionary, but they’re the green light we’ve been waiting for.

Simon Thomas

Thomas applauded the DCMS for submitting this proposal which outlines crucial and “quite complicated regulatory changes” in a clear and concise way.

UK Gambling Participation Drops

In the meantime, a recent survey suggested that gambling participation in Great Britain has taken a noticeable dip. Compiled by the National Centre for Social Research, the recent study suggested that in the three months covering September 2024 and January 2025, 46% of adults engaged in a form of gambling. This figure represented a decline of 3%

Global gaming giant MGM Resorts has watched the efforts to regulate casinos in Thailand from the front seats, hoping to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the country. As these efforts progressed, the company encouraged local authorities to adopt a competitive casino tax.

Thailand Casinos Inch Closer to Reality

Thailand recently warmed up toward the idea of casinos, making quick strides toward the legalization of integrated resorts.

Thai authorities have previously expressed optimism about the future of casino gaming, saying that they could potentially rival Singapore and open the first Thai resort before MGM Osaka goes live.

Despite pushback from those fearing that casino gaming would do more harm than good, the efforts have progressed, attracting the attention of international companies, such as MGM.

MGM has previously expressed confidence that Thailand could become a top market. Now, the company, which is prepared to invest between $3 billion and $5 billion in a casino in Bangkok, has warned that a sensible tax rate would be a must.

MGM Urges Thailand to Consider the Competition

As reported by the Bangkok Post, MGM Resorts believes that Thailand should adopt a tax rate that is competitive with Singapore, if the country is to achieve the success it envisions.

Ed Bowers, the company’s president of global development spoke with the Post, saying that Thailand should keep nearby casino regions in mind when determining its casino tax. He pointed out that Macau and Japan boast tax rates of 40% and 30%, respectively, while Singapore has an average GGR tax of 17%.

According to Bowers, Thailand should also consider allowing locals to play, warning that keeping the casinos open to foreign players only could fail to achieve the dramatic success the Thai government counts on. He cited South Korea’s foreigner-only casinos as a warning, noting that some of them have been encountering financial trouble.

Japan, on the other hand, is planning to collect a tax of approximately $40 from locals wishing to enter the upcoming MGM Osaka casino. Bowers didn’t disagree with this approach but warned that Thailand should make sure that the entry fee doesn’t dissuade players from gambling.

Bowers Says Regulated Gaming Will Benefit Thailand

Bowers also addressed the potential safer gambling benefits of allowing locals to play, arguing that access to a legal alternative would shield some consumers from the dangers of unlicensed operators. At the same time, casino taxes would fuel a variety of government initiatives, including education and problem gambling support.

Bowers further argued that additional benefits would be thousands of new jobs, which would be a strong economic stimulus.

Bowers teased MGM’s plans for Thailand, saying that his team would prefer to have its casino occupy 5-10% of the total resort area. He praised the government for capping the total casino area to 10%, which is more than what Japan and Singapore allow.

Caesars Entertainment has unveiled its first proprietary online casino game, Caesars Palace Signature Multihand Blackjack Surrender, which is now available exclusively on Caesars Palace Online Casino in New Jersey.

Caesars Entertainment Reveals New Game

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