World Cup betting ring busted in Ho Chi Minh City, used parking tickets for records

Ho Chi Minh City police have successfully busted a sophisticated online gambling ring organized around the 2026 World Cup, arresting 17 suspects involved in transactions totaling over 1.7 billion Vietnamese dong (approximately $70,000 USD).

The ring employed a clever method to conceal its operations: "betting slips" or "phơi" were meticulously recorded on the reverse side of parking tickets. This allowed organizers to discreetly track bets placed through online accounts and direct meetings, phone calls, or messages.

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The agency used the back of parking tickets to record bets, along with mobile phones and electronic data.

Authorities identified Nguyễn Minh Phúc, 32, as a key figure who received a Sbobet account with a credit limit from Phạm Tấn Tài, 45, to facilitate betting during the World Cup. Phúc acted as a "dealer," accepting bets and then inputting them into the online system, often adjusting odds to profit from the difference. The investigation revealed that within a mere two-week period, from July 3 to July 15, 2026, the total transaction volume reached the substantial sum of over 1.7 billion VND.

Phúc and Tài, along with 15 other accomplices, have been charged with illegal gambling and organizing illegal gambling. Police are continuing their investigation to identify higher-level suppliers of the betting accounts and further dismantle the network. Other individuals involved in smaller amounts are also facing legal proceedings.

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Within less than two weeks (from July 3 to July 15, 2026), the total transaction amount through Phúc's network exceeded 1.7 billion VND.