The most impactful approach to thwarting the surge of the black market is a subject often deliberated over, but in Vietnam, the country’s governance is aiming to fire at the marketing funnel of the network.
According to the local media outlet, VietnamNet, Hanoi Police had confirmed a raid on the offices of the digital marketing business Super Thi Seo Media Services and arrested its CEO, Pham Ngoc Manh, following allegations that the group is driving traffic to the black market.
Police issued a warning around the levels of traffic and revenue that are generated through the network, with reports alleging that VND3.7bn (£105,830) was generated from promoting illegal websites from the beginning of 2026.
The raids also discovered around VND7bn (£199,714) in cash and assets converted from cryptocurrency holdings, a savings account worth VND3bn (£85,736), 29 computers and 41 mobile phones.
Cryptocurrency played a core role in the alleged network and how it engaged players in the illicit market. Manh is accused of using 41 electronic wallets to receive payments from illegal websites.
Could this approach be replicated?
Across global markets, a myriad of approaches to tackling the black market have been cited as most effective. However, if the marketing avenue can be tackled, it could provide a crucial gateway to halting the market.
Shifting away from the operators and instead targeting those who enable them is an avenue that could prove fruitful, including marketing and payment processors.
It is a remedy that has achieved a level of success in other Asian markets. Earlier this year, Japan’s National Police Agency said that 25 individuals out of the 221 arrested in 2025 suspected of being part of illegal gambling activity were detained for being operators, affiliates or payment processors for online gambling networks.
Japan also reached out to regulators, including those in Malta, Curaçao, the Isle of Man and the Philippines, to block access to Japanese users or remove Japanese-language support from gambling services.
Although there is clearly a strong appetite for online gambling among Japan’s citizens, the government has taken a strong stance against the sector, shutting down any talks of regulation and instead tightening oversight due to concerns surrounding the social harms caused by iGaming.In comparison, the country’s Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, is a strong advocate for the potential of integrated resorts to stimulate economic growth, and a roadmap has now been set out for a new round of applications for local governments interested in hosting a resort.
