Dozens of provinces and cities ignore reports on handling online lottery purchases

In a document recently sent to the People's Committees of provinces and cities, the Ministry of Finance requested to rectify the activities of distributing lottery tickets over the Internet and organizing lottery businesses in violation of the law.

The Ministry of Finance said that from August 24, 2023, it has sent a document requesting the People's Committees of provinces and cities to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to prevent the above activities. The results will be sent to the Ministry of Finance before September 30, 2023 for the Ministry of Finance to synthesize information, manage and report to the Government leaders.

lottery 1.jpg — Lottery tickets are not distributed over the Internet.

However, the Ministry of Finance said that so far it has not received reports from dozens of provinces and cities about buying lottery tickets via the Internet. 28 provinces and cities that have not reported include: Bac Giang, Ha Giang , Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Lao Cai, Lang Son, Lai Chau, Quang Ninh, Son La, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Vinh Phuc, Bac Kan, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Ben Tre, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tay Ninh, Binh Thuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Phuoc, Kien Giang.

The Ministry of Finance requests that the above provinces and cities submit reports to the Ministry of Finance before November 17, 2023 so that the Ministry can synthesize information, manage and report to Government leaders.

In a document sent to the People's Committees of provinces and cities at the end of August, the Ministry of Finance proposed to rectify the distribution of lottery tickets over the Internet.

According to the Ministry of Finance's assessment, purchasing and distributing foreign lottery products has an unfair competitive impact on legal domestic lottery business activities; affects state budget revenue from legal lottery business activities and tax evasion.

"The more worrying issue is that buying foreign lottery tickets through websites/apps does not guarantee that customers will be paid if they win because it involves transferring money from abroad to Vietnam, which can easily lead to disputes that affect social order and safety," the Ministry of Finance said.

Regarding the purchase and distribution of domestic lottery products, the Ministry of Finance also pointed out that websites that purchase and distribute traditional domestic lottery products are violating regulations on distribution methods and distribution areas.

The Ministry of Finance believes that these activities pose many risks, causing disorder in social security; causing difficulties in the management and operation of the lottery market by the management agency; tax evasion, unfair competition with agents, affecting budget revenue; and there is a risk of being exploited for disguised gambling or deceiving customers.

The Ministry of Finance is concerned that buying lottery tickets online is a disguised form of gambling . The Ministry of Finance believes that websites that purchase traditional domestic lottery products as well as distribute foreign lottery tickets pose many risks of causing social disorder and insecurity, and are at risk of being exploited for disguised gambling or deceiving customers.

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