Decree 86/2026/ND-CP amending Decree 121/2021/ND-CP on business of prize-winning video games for foreigners

DECREE

Amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 121/2021/ND-CP dated July 29, 2013, providing the business of prize-winning video games for foreigners

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government No. 63/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Investment No. 61/2020/QH14, amended and supplemented under Law No. 90/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Enterprises No. 59/2020/QH14, amended and supplemented under Law No. 76/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations No. 15/2012/QH13, amended and supplemented under Law No. 67/2020/QH14 and Law No. 88/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Anti-Money Laundering Law No. 14/2022/QH15;

At the proposal of the Minister of Finance;

The Government hereby promulgates the Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 121/2021/ND-CP dated July 29, 2013, providing the business of prize-winning video games for foreigners.

Article 1. To amend and supplement Clause 3 and Clause 4, Article 4

“3. Tampering with, erasing, leasing, lending or transferring business eligibility certificates, investment registration certificates or enterprise registration certificates, or documents of competent state agencies permitting the business of prize-winning video games.

4. Conducting the prize-winning video game business in the following cases:

a) During the period of being deprived of the right to use certificates of eligibility for conducting the prize-winning video game business or being suspended from conducting the prize-winning video game business for a definite term under decisions of competent state agencies;

b) During the period of suspension of business operations under decisions of competent state agencies.”.

Article 2. To amend and supplement Article 6

“Article 6. Inauguration of operation and operation time

1. At least 15 days before the expected date of inauguration of the prize-winning video game business, an enterprise shall send a notice to the Ministry of Finance, provincial-level Department of Finance, Public Security Department, and provincial-level tax offices for monitoring and management.

2. An enterprise may organize the prize-winning video game business all days in a calendar year, excluding days on which the business operation is not permitted under decisions of competent state agencies.

In case of deprivation of the right to use the business eligibility certificate for a definite term, or suspension of the prize-winning video game business for a definite term, or where a competent state agency requires suspension of business operations, upon receipt of the decision or written request, the enterprise shall immediately cease business operations; concurrently, it shall notify at the business facility the time of cessation and the reason for cessation of business operations.

3. An enterprise may suspend its business operation to meet its management requirements. At least 15 days before the expected time of business suspension, the enterprise shall send a notice thereof to the state agencies defined in Clause 1 of this Article for monitoring and management. Such a notice must clearly state the time of business suspension, reason for the suspension, and expected time of business resumption. In case of changing the expected time of business resumption, the enterprise shall notify the change in writing to these agencies. The enterprise shall notify at the business facility of the suspension of business operations.

4. During the period of suspension of business operations, the enterprise shall monitor and supervise entry and exit areas of the business facility by a camera system and shall store camera image data in accordance with Point b, Clause 2, Article 5 of this Decree to serve the management, inspection and examination activities of competent state agencies.”.

Article 3. To amend and supplement Point b, Clause 6, Article 11

“b) A monitoring book for controlling the persons permitted to enter and leave the business facility as defined in Clauses 2, 3 and 4 of this Article must have the following principal contents:

- E-card identification numbers (if any);

- Full names and photos (in case they are granted e-cards);

- Personal identification numbers or numbers of passports or international travel documents;

- Positions and working titles assigned to them in business facilities;

- Time of working in business facilities;

- Other information related to the control of persons permitted to enter and leave business facilities to meet management requirements of enterprises.”.

Article 4. To amend and supplement Clause 4, Article 14

“4. Within 30 days, an enterprise shall re-export or destroy prize-winning video game machines, tokens and gaming gear in the following cases:

a) It willingly terminates its business operation, dissolves itself, is declared bankrupt by the court, or has its investment registration certificate or enterprise registration certificate or business eligibility certificate revoked, or has its prize-winning video game business terminated;

b) Its prize-winning video game machines, tokens and gaming gear have expired under regulations of manufacturers or are broken or damaged to the extent that they cannot be repaired or restored to normal operation;

c) Prize-winning video game machines, tokens and gaming gear are no longer needed for use;

d) According to the conclusions of inspection or examination agencies or competent state agencies;

dd) The period for conducting the prize-winning video game business as prescribed in the investment registration certificate or the business eligibility certificate has expired, except in cases where procedures for extension of the certificate of eligibility for conducting the prize-winning video game business are being carried out.”.

Article 5. To amend a number of clauses of Article 15

1. To amend the title of Article 15 as follows:

“Article 15. Internal management and internal control regulations, and dispute resolution regulations applicable to the business facility”

2. To add Clause 3 as follows:

“3. Dispute resolution regulations applicable to the business facility

a) The enterprise shall formulate dispute resolution regulations to settle disputes between players and the enterprise arising in the course of participating in prize-winning video games at the business facility. The dispute resolution regulations shall contain the following principal information:

- Principles for handling disputes;

- Cases of disputes handled under the dispute resolution regulations;

- Responsibilities of players and the enterprise for reporting and reflecting cases considered as prize-winning video games not conducted in accordance with the game rules and requesting the enterprise to resolve them;

- Conditions on the status for complaints to be considered and handled;

- Procedures and processes for resolving disputes between players and the enterprise, including: Complaint dossiers, complaint-receiving unit, time limit for handling disputes of the enterprise, and competence to decide on dispute resolution;

- Rights, obligations and responsibilities of players and the enterprise.

b) The enterprise shall publicly post the dispute resolution regulations at the business facility or distribute leaflets to players.

c) In case where the enterprise and players do not conduct conciliation or do not agree with the dispute resolution outcome, the player or the enterprise has the right to initiate court proceedings or choose arbitration proceedings in accordance with law.”.

Article 6. To amend Clause 1, Article 16

“1. Enterprises shall formulate and issue their internal regulations on anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and counter-proliferation financing of weapons of mass destruction (below collectively referred to as internal regulations on anti-money laundering) in accordance with the laws on anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism, and counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and amending, supplementing and guiding documents.”.

Article 7. To amend and supplement a number of points of Clause 2, Article 18

1. To amend Point dd as follows:

“dd) To settle disputes and complaints of players in accordance with game rules, dispute resolution regulations and law;”.

2. To amend Point g as follows:

“g) To implement measures to prevent and control money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in accordance with law;”.

Article 8. To amend and supplement Clause 1, Article 19

“1. Conditions and standards for managers of business facilities:

a) Having full civil act capacity; not being subject to criminal prosecution, not serving a prison sentence, and not being prohibited by a Court from holding positions or practicing in the field of prize-winning video games;

b) Possessing an educational qualification of at least a university degree and having at least 3 years’ experience in managing and administering prize-winning video game business.”.

Article 9. To amend and supplement a number of points of Clause 3, Article 20

1. To amend Point a as follows:

“a) The enterprise has a tourist accommodation establishment including types of hotels (excluding floating hotels), tourist villas, and tourist apartments that have been rated 5 stars by a competent state agency in accordance with the Law on Tourism and guiding documents;”.

2. To amend Point d as follows:

“d) Having both charter capital and equity of at least VND 500 billion; in case where an enterprise applies for the grant of business eligibility certificates at multiple tourist accommodation establishments, it must ensure that for each additional business eligibility certificate, both charter capital and equity are increased by VND 500 billion from the minimum level. The enterprise has made a profit in the fiscal year preceding the year when it submits a dossier of application for a business eligibility certificate.”.

Article 10. To amend Clauses 8, 9 and 10, Article 21

“8. Draft game rules, internal management regulations, internal control regulations, dispute resolution regulations, and internal regulations on anti-money laundering.

9. A business plan, including the following major contents: objectives, quantity, categories and types of prize-winning video games, solutions for ensuring security and social order and safety for the business facility and the implementation plan.

10. A list, brief curriculum vitae of qualifications and working experience, certified copies or copies with the originals presented for use as proof of the business facility manager's or administrator's satisfaction of conditions or standards specified in Clause 1 Article 19 of this Decree.”.

Article 11. To amend Article 22

“Article 22. Order and procedures for grant of a business eligibility certificate

1. The enterprise shall submit the dossier of application for a business eligibility certificate to the Ministry of Finance by one of the following modes:

a) By hand-delivery;

b) Via postal service;

c) Through the administrative procedure handling information system of the Ministry of Finance.

In case of incomplete or invalid dossier, within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier, the Ministry of Finance shall issue a written notification requesting the enterprise to supplement and complete the dossier.

2. Within 90 days after receiving the complete or valid dossier, the Ministry of Finance shall consider and grant a business eligibility certificate. In case of refusal to grant a business eligibility certificate, the Ministry of Finance shall notify the enterprise thereof in writing and clearly state the reason for the refusal.

3. Order and procedures for appraisal of a dossier:

a) Within 10 working days after receiving a valid and complete dossier, the Ministry of Finance shall send the dossier to related agencies for opinion, including: the Ministry of Public Security; Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; State Bank of Vietnam, and People’s Committee of the province or city (below referred to as provincial-level People’s Committee) where the enterprise applies for organizing prize-winning video game business activities;

b) Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the Ministry of Finance's request, a consulted agency shall send its written opinions and be held responsible for the contents of such opinions;

c) After receiving opinions from all related agencies, the Ministry of Finance shall synthesize the opinions and consider and decide on the grant or refusal to grant the business eligibility certificate;

d) After being granted a business eligibility certificate by the Ministry of Finance, the enterprise shall carry out procedures for adjusting or adding its certificate of satisfaction of security and order conditions with the line of prize-winning video game business, and notify the business registration agency of the change in business lines in the national database on enterprise registration as specified by law before conducting prize-winning video game business activities.

4. Contents of appraisal

Pursuant to this Decree and relevant laws, the Ministry of Finance and related agencies shall appraise the dossier in relevance to the conditions specified in Article 20 this Decree.”.

Article 12. To amend and supplement a number of points and clauses of Article 24

1. To amend Point b, Clause 1 as follows:

“b) The enterprise is reorganized (the enterprise is divided, split up, merged, or consolidated or transformed) in accordance with the Law on Enterprises and after the reorganization, fully meets the business conditions specified at Points a, b and c, Clause 3, Article 20 of this Decree and has the charter capital and equity satisfying the provisions at Point d, Clause 3 of Article 20 of this Decree. Within 15 days from the date of completion of procedures for reorganization, the enterprise shall carry out procedures for re-grant of the business eligibility certificate.”.

2. To amend Point b, Clause 2 as follows:

“b) The enterprise shall submit 1 set of dossier of request for re-grant of the business eligibility certificate as specified in Clause 1, Article 22 of this Decree. Within 10 working days after receiving the enterprise’s request, the Ministry of Finance shall re-grant the business eligibility certificate to the enterprise.”.

Article 13. To amend and supplement Article 26

“Article 26. Extension of business eligibility certificates

1. At least 6 months prior to the expiration of the business eligibility certificate, where the enterprise has demand to continue the prize-winning video game business, it shall carry out procedures for extension of the business eligibility certificate.

2. Conditions for extension of the business eligibility certificate:

a) The enterprise fully meets the conditions specified at Points a, b and c, Clause 3, Article 20 of this Decree;

b) The enterprise has the charter capital and equity as prescribed at Point d, Clause 3, Article 20 of this Decree;

c) The enterprise has not been subject to the administrative sanction of deprival of the right to use the business eligibility certificate, or suspension of the prize-winning video game business for 2 times or more in accordance with the law on handling of administrative violations within 10 years before submission of the dossier of request for extension of a business eligibility certificate.

3. A dossier of request for extension of a business eligibility certificate must comprise:

a) A request for extension of the business eligibility certificate, made according to Form No. 03 provided in Appendix II to this Decree;

b) The documents specified in Clauses 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10, Article 21 of this Decree;

c) A business plan, covering the following major contents:

- Results of prize-winning video game business in the last 3 years up to the time of submitting the dossier, including: information about the business facility; quantity and types of machines, types of video games actually put for commercial operation; results of prize-winning video game business (turnovers, expenses, profits and payments to the state budget);

- Plan on prize-winning video game business in the coming time, covering: quantity and type of machines, type of prize-winning video games; expected results of prize-winning video game business (turnovers, expenses, profits and payments to the state budget); solutions for ensuring security and social order and safety for the business facility; the proposed extension period; implementation plan;

- Observance of the law on prize-winning video game business and the enterprise’s commitment to abiding by relevant legal provisions on prize-winning video game business.

4. The process and procedures for extension of business eligibility certificates must comply with Clauses 1, 2 and 3, Article 22 of this Decree.

5. Contents of appraisal

Pursuant to the provisions of this Decree and other relevant legal provisions, the Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the agencies specified in Clause 3, Article 22 of this Decree in, appraising dossiers in relevance to the conditions specified in Clause 2 of this Article so as to consider and decide to grant extended business eligibility certificates to enterprises. Extended business eligibility certificates must clearly state the time of extension.

6. The extension period of a business eligibility certificate is that requested by the enterprise but must not exceed the duration of the investment registration certificate or enterprise registration certificate and must not exceed 10 years from the date of extension.”.

Article 14. To amend a number of points and clauses of Article 28

1. To amend Points d and dd, Clause 1 as follows:

“d) The enterprise fails to fully meet the conditions for conducting prize-winning video game business under Point a, Clause 2, Article 40 of this Decree as concluded by inspection or examination agencies;

dd) The enterprise seriously violates regulations on organization of prize-winning video game business activities as concluded by inspection or examination agencies;”

2. To add Point h, Clause 1 as follows:

“h) The enterprise organizes for persons not falling within the scope prescribed in Article 9 of this Decree to play prize-winning video games.”.

3. To amend Clause 3 as follows:

“3. The Ministry of Finance shall issue decisions to revoke business eligibility certificates in the cases specified at Points a, d, dd, e, g and h, Clause 1 of this Article.”.

Article 15. To amend Clause 3, Article 29

“3. Within 45 days after receiving a complete dossier as prescribed, the State Bank of Vietnam shall consider and grant a license, made according to Form No. 05 provided in Appendix II to this Decree. In case of refusal, the State Bank of Vietnam shall issue a written reply clearly stating the reason.

In case the dossier is incomplete or invalid, within 10 working days after receiving the dossier, the State Bank of Vietnam shall issue a notice requesting the enterprise to supplement the dossier.”.

Article 16. To amend Clause 1, Article 33

“1. Enterprises shall publicize all game rules and dispute resolution regulations at their business facilities.”.

Article 17. To amend and supplement a number of points and clauses of Article 39

1. To amend Point c, Clause 1 as follows:

c) Conducting specialized inspection, and handling violations of the law on prize-winning video game business under this Decree and the law on sanction of administrative violations in the field of prize-winning game business;”.

2. To add Point d, Clause 4 as follows:

“d) Direct enterprises providing online social network services to proactively prevent and refrain from providing prize-winning video games via online social networks.”.

3. To amend and supplement Clause 5 as follows:

“5. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall

a) Direct providers of Internet services, network infrastructure and telecommunications businesses in proactively preventing or refraining from providing prize-winning video games via computer networks, telecommunications networks and the Internet;

b) Coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and related ministries and sectors in preventing the provision of gambling services via computer networks, telecommunications networks and the Internet from overseas into Vietnam.”.

4. To amend Points b and c, Clause 8 as follows:

“b) Manage, supervise, conduct specialized inspection and examine prize-winning video game business activities in their localities in order to assure that compliance with this Decree and law;

c) Direct related agencies under their management in performing regular and constant management, supervision, specialized inspection and examination of prize-winning video game business activities in their localities.”.

Article 18. To amend and supplement Article 40

“Article 40. Specialized inspection and examination

1. State management agencies shall conduct specialized inspection and examination on a regular or irregular basis. Irregularly specialized inspection or examination may be performed only when signs of violation of enterprises are detected or when it is necessary to serve settlement of complaints and denunciations, corruption prevention and combat or as assigned or required by heads of competent state agencies.

2. The Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, related ministries and sectors, and provincial-level People’s Committees of localities where enterprises organize prize-winning video game business activities in, conducting specialized inspection once every 3 years. Inspection contents include:

a) Inspection of the satisfaction of the conditions for grant of business eligibility certificates specified at Points a, b, and c, Clause 3, Article 20 of this Decree.

Particularly for the enterprises specified in Clause 1, Article 42 of this Decree, inspection of satisfaction of the conditions for dealing in prize-winning video game business under permits issued by competent state agencies in accordance with law.

b) Inspection of the observance of provisions on organization of prize-winning video game business activities, covering the following principal contents:

- Management of prize-winning video game machines and equipment and tokens;

- Management of persons eligible for playing prize-winning video games and persons permitted to enter and leave business facilities;

- Observance of internal management regulations, internal control and financial regulations and game rules;

- Foreign exchange management and observance of internal regulations on anti-money laundering;

- Observance of regulations on finance, accounting and state budget remittance obligations.

3. Provincial-level People’s Committees and provincial-level Departments of Public Security may decide to conduct unscheduled specialized inspection in case enterprises show signs of violating regulations on persons eligible for playing prize-winning video games or regulations on assurance of security and social order and safety or when receiving crime reports concerning the enterprises or other violations relating to prize-winning video game business activities, and shall send inspection results to the Ministry of Finance and relevant state agencies within 30 days from the date of completion of the inspection..

4. The spcialized inspection of performance of tax obligations of enterprises must comply with the laws on taxes.

5. Within 12 months from the date the enterprise inaugurates the organization of the prize-winning video game business in accordance with Clause 1, Article 6 of this Decree, the provincial-level People’s Committee shall conduct specialized inspection of the prize-winning video game business according to the contents prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article and send the inspection results to the Ministry of Finance for monitoring and management.

6. Examination of the prize-winning video game business shall comply with the law on examination.”.

Article 19. To amend and supplement Clause 3, Article 41

“3. Request enterprises to suspend part or the whole of prize-winning video game business activities within business facilities when having sufficient grounds to believe that the enterprises seriously violate law, and notify such in writing to the agency that has granted business eligibility certificates and competent state agencies for handling in accordance with laws.”.

Article 20. To amend and supplement Article 42

“Article 42. Transitional provisions

1. Enterprises that have been granted investment registration certificates or enterprise registration certificates which cover the line of prize-winning video game business, or obtained competent state agencies’ written permissions for conducting the prize-winning video game business before the effective date of Decree No. 86/2013/ND-CP may continue to conduct the prize-winning video game business under such certificates or permissions.

2. An enterprise specified in Clause 1 of this Article shall carry out procedures for grant of a business eligibility certificate, if it so wishes, according to the following provisions:

a) A dossier of application for a business eligibility certificate must comprise:

- A competent state agency’s written permission for conducting the prize-winning video game business (if any);

- Documents proving the quantity, types and categories of prize-winning video game machines actually put into commercial operation by the enterprise under legal regulations before the effective date of Decree No. 86/2013/ND-CP or the competent state agency’s written permission (if any);

- The documents specified in Clauses 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10, Article 21 of this Decree. Particularly, enterprises that do not have tourist accommodation establishments are not required to submit the documents specified in Clauses 3 and 4, Article 21 of this Decree.

b) The enterprise shall submit the dossier of application for a business eligibility certificate to the Ministry of Finance. Within 30 days after receiving the complete and valid dossier, the Ministry of Finance shall grant a business eligibility certificate to the enterprise, in which:

- The quantity, types and categories of prize-winning video game machines which the enterprise is licensed to commercially operate must comply with the investment registration certificate or enterprise registration certificate or the competent state agency's written permission, or the quantity, types and categories of prize-winning video game machines actually put into commercial operation by the enterprise under legal regulations before the effective date of Decree No. 86/2013/ND-CP. In case there is a difference in the quantity of prize-winning video game machines, the enterprise may commercially operate the machines with the highest quantity.

Particularly for an enterprise that has not yet organized prize-winning video game business activities, the quantity of prize-winning video game machines which the enterprise is licensed to commercially operate must comply with the investment registration certificate or enterprise registration certificate or the written permission of the competent state agency. In case the investment registration certificate, enterprise registration certificate or the written permission of the competent state agency does not specify the quantity of prize-winning video game machines, the enterprise may commercially operate the machines with the quantity specified in Clause 1, Article 7 of this Decree.

- The validity period of the business eligibility certificate must not exceed the remaining operation duration stated in the granted investment registration certificate or enterprise registration certificate or written permission of a competent state agency. In case the investment registration certificate or enterprise registration certificate or written permission of a competent state agency does not specify the business duration, the validity period of a business eligibility certificate must comply with Article 23 of this Decree.

3. Upon expiration of the prize-winning video game business duration prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article, the enterprise shall terminate the prize-winning video game business. In case of demand for the grant of the business eligibility certificate, the enterprise must satisfy the conditions prescribed in Article 20 of this Decree and must not have been deprived of the right to use the business eligibility certificate or suspended from conducting the prize-winning video game business for 2 times or more within 10 years before the time of submission of the dossier of application for the business eligibility certificate. Dossiers, processes and procedures shall comply with Article 22 of this Decree.

4. During the course of business operations, enterprises prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article shall have their prize-winning video game business terminated in any of the following cases:

a) The enterprise seriously violates regulations on organization of prize-winning video game business activities as concluded by inspection or examination agencies;

b) The enterprise violates any of the regulations on business facilities and managers and administrators of business facilities specified in Article 5 and Article 19 of Decree, but cannot remediate such violation within 90 days from the date the Ministry of Finance issues a notice thereof;

c) The enterprise organizes for persons not falling within the scope prescribed in Article 9 of this Decree to play prize-winning video games.

The Ministry of Finance shall issue a decision on termination of the prize-winning video game business. The enterprise shall immediately terminate the prize-winning video game business at the time of termination.”.

Article 21. To amend Appendix I and Form No. 02 provided in Appendix II.

Article 22. To replace and repeal a number of phrases, points, clauses and articles of Decree No. 121/2021/ND-CP

1. To replace the phrase “local Tax Department” with “provincial-level tax office” in Clauses 3 and 4, Article 7; Clauses 1, 3 and 4, Article 8; Clause 2 and Clause 3, Article 12; Clause 5, Article 14; Point b, Clause 2, Article 15; Clause 2, Article 16.

2. To repeal Point c and Point d, Clause 2, Article 5; Clause 1 and Clause 2, Article 20; Clause 2 and Clause 7, Article 21; the second indent of Point a, Clause 2 and the second indent of Clause 3, Article 24; Point b, Clause 2, Article 25; Point b, Clause 1, Article 29; the second indent of Point b, Clause 1, Article 30; the second indent of Point a, Clause 2, Article 32; and Clause 2, Article 39.

Article 23. Effect

1. This Decree takes effect from May 15, 2026.

2. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, and related organizations and individuals shall implement this Decree.