Cockfighting Betting Arena Dismantled in Laos, 196 Suspects Charged

^{Participants in illegal cockfighting}

Vietnamese authorities have dismantled a transnational gambling network operating under the guise of an “international cockfighting arena” in Laos near the border with Vietnam, the Báo Nghệ An news portal reported.

Police in Thanh Hoa province said the operation was carried out on March 26, 2026, in coordination with law enforcement agencies in Laos.

A total of 205 people were detained in the raid, 196 of whom were formally charged. Among them, 60 face charges related to organizing illegal gambling, while 136 are accused of participating.

Investigators said the venue, known as the Vieng Xay arena, was located in Laos but primarily targeted Vietnamese nationals. Players crossed the border to place bets in person or joined remotely via a website and Telegram channels streaming the fights.

Authorities identified Dao Anh Dung and his wife, Quach Thi Hang, as the network’s organizers. Several individuals invested in launching the operation and later received a share of the betting proceeds, investigators said. The total volume of transactions is estimated at more than 1.2 trillion dong, or about $46 million.

^{Dao Anh Dung was the organizer and ringleader of the scheme}

During searches, police seized vehicles, mobile phones, documents, cash and fighting cocks, and froze bank accounts. In addition to gambling-related charges, investigators are examining possible offences including unlawful detention and robbery.

Earlier, Gambling Park reported that Scotland had banned greyhound racing, affecting the betting market.