TLDR
- Police in Can Tho, Ninh Binh, and Da Nang broke up three separate gambling and betting rings.
- Combined transactions across the three cases reached about VND2 trillion, or roughly $75 million.
- The Can Tho ring alone handled over $37.6 million in lottery and football betting.
- The Ninh Binh network used a shared betting account split into smaller accounts across several provinces.
- Betting activity spiked during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with millions in wagers placed in just weeks.
Police across three Vietnamese cities have shut down gambling networks tied to nearly $75 million in bets. The busts happened in Can Tho, Ninh Binh, and Da Nang, and were reported starting July 4.
Each case involved online betting operations built around football matches and lottery numbers. Investigators say the networks used layered account systems to spread bets across many users.
Can Tho Ring Handled Over $37 Million
Can Tho City Police said their Criminal Police Division broke up a gambling syndicate running both lottery and football betting. The group’s transactions topped VND1 trillion, or about $37.6 million.
Officers raided eight locations at once in the early hours of June 28. They summoned 26 people for questioning during the operation.
Police seized 45 phones, iPads, and computers along with documents tied to the betting activity. Thirteen suspects have been detained on charges of gambling and organizing gambling. The investigation into other people’s roles is still going on.
Ninh Binh Network Spread Across Provinces
Ninh Binh Provincial Police worked with the Ministry of Public Security to take down a football betting ring. They named Nguyen Van Hao and Pham Xuan Thuy, both from Thai Nguyen Province, as the alleged leaders.
The group used one main betting account, known as JQK52, and split it into smaller accounts for gamblers in Thai Nguyen, Ninh Binh, and other areas. Police estimate the ring processed over VND900 billion, or about $33.8 million.
Betting jumped during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. From June 12 until police stepped in, the group handled around VND350 billion, or $13.2 million, in bets tied to the tournament. Six suspects are currently detained.
Da Nang Case Tied to World Cup Betting
Da Nang City Police said their Criminal Police Division dismantled a football betting ring active during the World Cup. The ring recorded about VND20 billion, or $752,000, in bets.
Investigators say Tran Trung Viet received a main betting account and split it into four smaller “Agent” accounts. Those accounts were run by Tran Quoc Quang, Tran Quoc Hung, and Nguyen Dang Hoang Linh, all from Da Nang.
The agents then split their accounts further into 16 smaller accounts for individual bettors. Between June 1 and July 2, the group’s transactions passed VND20 billion.
On July 2, police sent eight task forces to search several locations. They arrested suspects and collected close to 12,000 pages of documents and electronic records.
Tran Trung Viet is now detained on charges of organizing gambling. Tran Quoc Quang, Tran Quoc Hung, and two other people are under investigation for gambling offenses. Nguyen Dang Hoang Linh has not been found yet, and the case remains open.
