Over 300 Vietnamese people cross the border to gamble in Cambodia
every day, mainly through the assistance of brokers.
According
to surveys by law enforcement agencies, a large number of Vietnamese
citizens are gambling in Cambodia. Many cross as the Moc Bai
border-gate in Tay Ninh Province, bound for Baves Commune in Chan Tria
District, Sveyrieng Province in Cambodia, an area that has four
casinos, one Chinese owned and three under Hong Kong investors.
Around
250-300 Vietnamese people cross the border everyday to gamble at the
casinos. The figure is 600-700 on weekends, with the majority being
Chinese Vietnamese from HCM City, although people from Tay Ninh and
other southern provinces join the ranks.
Most
gamblers present Vietnamese passports to cross the border, although
some cross via trails and some Tay Ninh residents use border-identity
cards to cross into Cambodia.
Of
concern to law enforcement officers are the hustlers who lead
Vietnamese gamblers to casinos in Cambodia. Gamblers need only to get
in a car provided by a hustler; they don’t even need to carry cash as
wins and losses will be worked out with the hustler upon return to
Vietnam. Not surprisingly, statistics show that most Vietnamese
gamblers lose in Cambodian casinos.
There
are 10-12 groups bringing together 33 hustlers in HCM City and Tay
Ninh. They earn 0.2% of whatever a gambler wins or looses at the casino.
According
to surveys, from September 20 to October 19 last year, 9,133 people
crossed at Moc Bai border-gate to play the casinos in Cambodia. Of
them, 624 people went three or more times. The number was 10,578 and
850 between October 20 and November 14.
Casino
owners have organized a marketing network that reaches many families
and businesses in HCM City. They provide free travel, food and are
ready to lend money to get punters to gamble
Law enforcement agents are seeking ways to end the hustler’s operations.
VietNamNet
