Vietnamese authorities have dismantled two illegal betting networks that allegedly processed around US$133 million in wagers, as the country intensifies its crackdown on underground gambling during the FIFA World Cup.
Police in Ho Chi Minh City detained 85 suspects following coordinated raids in late June, describing the operations as highly organized with multi-layered management structures designed to handle large betting volumes.
Cambodia-Based Betting Network
Investigators said the syndicates had been operating since at least October 2025, using betting accounts sourced from Cambodia.
The accounts were divided into multiple levels and distributed through a network of agents, allowing gamblers to place bets online while concealing the organizations’ overall structure.
Authorities estimate the two networks handled transactions worth approximately US$133 million over the course of their operations.
World Cup Spurs Gambling Crackdown
The investigation forms part of a broader nationwide enforcement campaign launched during the FIFA World Cup, a period that typically sees a sharp rise in illegal sports betting.
According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security, authorities dismantled 73 illegal gambling operations during the tournament’s first 20 days and arrested 346 suspects linked to football betting and other gambling activities.
Officials said the combined value of transactions uncovered across the investigations amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Vietnam continues to prohibit online gambling, with authorities stepping up enforcement during major international sporting events to curb the growth of illegal betting networks.
