Vietnamese locals will be free to gamble in the country’s casinos from 1 December 2017 – but exactly which casinos are permitted to grant entry remains unclear.

The latest circular from Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance stipulates 1 December as the official start date for a long-awaited three-year trial that will see locals allowed to enter its casinos for the first time subject to certain strict requirements.

Those requirements include proof that the person earns a monthly income of at least VND10 million (US$440) or are taxed at “Level 3” or higher. Casinos must either open books or issue electronic cards to monitor locals who enter the property, with the monitoring book or card required to be archived for a minimum of five years to allow authorities to review and evaluate the trial scheme.

Locals will also be required to buy a ticket for entry, with the proceeds to be paid via tax to the State Treasury. A previous circular suggested the entry fee would be VND1 million (US$44) for a single ticket or VND25 million for a monthly pass although new Circular No 102/2017/TT-BTC does not clarify the amount.