TLDR
- Vietnamese police raided a digital marketing firm accused of driving traffic to illegal gambling sites
- CEO Pham Ngoc Manh was arrested; about £105,830 was allegedly generated from promoting illegal sites in 2026
- Crypto played a key role — 41 electronic wallets were used to receive payments from illegal websites
- Around £199,714 in cash and crypto-converted assets was seized, along with 29 computers and 41 phones
- The enforcement mirrors a wider regional trend, with Japan also targeting affiliates and payment processors
Vietnam Cracks Down on Illegal Gambling Marketing and Crypto Payment Channels
Vietnamese authorities have shifted their focus in the fight against illegal gambling. Instead of targeting the gambling operators directly, they are going after the marketing and payment networks that support them.
Police in Hanoi raided the offices of Super Thi Seo Media Services, a digital marketing company. The firm was accused of funneling internet traffic toward illegal gambling websites.
The company’s CEO, Pham Ngoc Manh, was arrested following the raid. Authorities say the network generated around VND3.7bn, or approximately £105,830, from promoting illegal sites since the start of 2026.
How Cryptocurrency Was Involved
Crypto was central to how the alleged scheme operated. Manh is accused of using 41 electronic wallets to receive payments from illegal gambling websites.
During the raid, police found around VND7bn — roughly £199,714 — in cash and assets that had been converted from cryptocurrency. A savings account holding VND3bn, or about £85,736, was also discovered.
Officers seized 29 computers and 41 mobile phones as part of the investigation. The scale of the equipment found suggests the operation was well-resourced.
Targeting the Supply Chain, Not Just the Sites
This approach is part of a broader shift in how regulators and law enforcement are tackling illegal gambling. Rather than going after individual bettors or even the gambling platforms, authorities are targeting the businesses that help those platforms function.
That includes digital marketing agencies, affiliate networks, and payment processors. By cutting off the traffic and money flow, the goal is to make the black market harder to sustain.
Regional Enforcement Trends
Vietnam is not alone in this approach. Japan has been applying similar pressure on the supply side of illegal gambling.
Earlier in 2025, Japan’s National Police Agency reported that 25 of the 221 people arrested for illegal gambling were operators, affiliates, or payment processors — not just gamblers.
Japan has also written to licensing bodies in Malta, Curaçao, the Isle of Man, and the Philippines, asking them to block Japanese users from accessing certain gambling services or remove Japanese-language support.
Japan takes a strict stance on online gambling, favoring tighter controls over regulation due to social concerns.
At the same time, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi continues to support integrated resorts for economic development. A new application round has been outlined for local governments interested in hosting one.
Back in Vietnam, the case against Super Thi Seo Media Services shows a clear enforcement strategy: target the networks that keep illegal gambling sites visible and funded.
By going after marketing companies and crypto payment channels, Vietnam is trying to cut off the black market at its source rather than just its surface.
