What is Online Football Betting?

The kickoff of the World Cup often coincides with a spike in gambling-related crimes, particularly illegal football betting and organized gambling activities. What exactly is football betting, and how does the law penalize these actions?

The following article from NPLaw will provide you with comprehensive and accurate information on football betting.

I. What is Football Betting?

Currently, there is no specific legal definition for soccer today but it can be understood as follows: Football betting involves using money or other assets to wager on predicting the outcome of an ongoing or upcoming sports event that has not yet concluded or announced a final result.

What is Online Football Betting?

Similarly, online football betting involves using money or other assets to wager on predicting the outcome of a sports event that is either ongoing or about to start, but has not yet finished or declared a final result. This form of betting takes place on various online platforms, including betting websites, sports pages, and online gambling games. Participants only need internet-connected devices, a registered member account, a personal bank account to transfer or deposit money for gambling, or use phone cards and intermediary payment gateways to place bets.

If a player loses and cannot pay, they might face coercion from gambling operators through illegal detention, extortion, or hiring criminal elements to collect debts.

II. Common Forms of Football Betting

Football betting can take various forms, with the following four being the most prevalent:

Full Match Betting Betting on the overall outcome of a match is a popular choice among bettors. Here, the bettor wagers on whether their chosen team will win, lose, or draw against the opposing team. This type of betting is known as European betting in online football betting. To successfully place bets in this market, players need to assess the recent performance and strength of both teams.

Parlay Betting Parlay betting involves placing bets on multiple matches simultaneously. This type of betting can increase the potential payout but also raises the risk.

Total Goals Betting In this form of betting, players do not need to predict which team will win or lose. Instead, they predict the total number of goals scored by both teams at the end of the match, comparing it to a value set by the bookmaker, such as 1.5, 2.5, or 3.5. To be successful in this market, bettors should consider the playing style of each team to accurately predict whether the match will have many or few goals.

First Half Betting Instead of betting on the full match, players can place wagers on the outcome of the first half. Bets can be placed on which team will be leading, which will be losing, or whether the first half will end in a draw.

III. Legal Consequences of Football Betting

In more severe cases, offenders can face three to seven years of imprisonment if they:

Commit the crime professionally;

Use money or other valuables worth 50,000,000 VND or more for gambling;

Use the internet, computer networks, telecommunications networks, or electronic devices to commit the crime;

Commit dangerous recidivism.

IV. FAQs About Football Betting

1. Is Organizing Online Football Betting Considered Organizing Gambling?

Although there is no specific legal guidance on this matter, it can be referenced from Clause 1 and Point b, Clause 4, Article 1 of Resolution 01/2010/NQ-HĐTP: "Illegal gambling is understood as any form of gambling conducted for the purpose of winning money or valuables without permission from competent state authorities, or conducted against the regulations stated in the granted permit." Therefore, online football betting is considered a form of gambling.

2. From What Amount is Football Betting Punished?

According to Clause 2, Article 28 of Decree 144/2021/NĐ-CP: A fine of 1,000,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND will be imposed for any of the following acts:

Illegally gambling in forms such as dice games, card games, and other forms aimed at winning money or valuables;

Illegally gambling using free football tips machines or electronic games;

Illegally betting in sports, entertainment, or other activities.

Thus, any form of illegal football betting will be subject to administrative fines ranging from 1,000,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND, regardless of the amount wagered.

3. How Are Those Who Record Bets or Organize Football Betting Penalized?

According to Clause 4, Article 28 of Decree 144/2021/NĐ-CP regarding illegal gambling acts: A fine of 5,000,000 VND to 10,000,000 VND will be imposed for any of the following acts of organizing gambling:

Encouraging, enticing, or gathering others to gamble illegally;

Using one's house or other premises to facilitate illegal gambling;

Placing gambling machines or electronic games illegally;

Organizing illegal money betting activities.

Therefore, recording bets or organizing illegal football betting will be subject to administrative fines ranging from 5,000,000 VND to 10,000,000 VND.

4. How Are Advertisements for Football Betting Handled?

best premium soccer tips strictly prohibits gambling, organizing gambling, and facilitating gambling in any form. Websites providing football betting or online gambling services are considered illegal business activities. Therefore, advertising these websites is also a violation of the law. According to Article 7 of the 2012 Advertising Law, goods, products, and services banned from business are prohibited from advertising.

Clause 2, Article 33 of Decree 38/2021/NĐ-CP stipulates that advertising banned goods or services can result in fines ranging from 70,000,000 VND to 100,000,000 VND. Similar penalties apply to advertising products with sexual content, hunting weapons, sports weapons, and products with violent content.

In addition to monetary fines, violators must remove, dismantle, and delete the advertisements or recall printed products containing such ads.

Hence, websites advertising football betting during the World Cup can face fines of 70,000,000 VND to 100,000,000 VND, and those responsible must remove the illegal advertisements.

The above information aims to clarify queries about football betting from NPLAW to our readers. If you have any further questions, please contact NPLAW through the provided contact information.