The Royal Ha Long casino in Vietnam has reported a 30% year-on-year decline in revenue, attributing the drop to significant payouts to winning patrons and the impact of the World Cup.
Royal International Corporation, which operates Royal Ha Long, posted a loss of $342,000 in the second quarter of 2026, a stark contrast to the $380,000 profit recorded in the same period of 2025. As Vietnam’s largest casino situated in Quang Ninh Province, the facility saw many of its high-stakes VIP customers winning multiple bets during this time, resulting in a substantial decline in revenue derived from gaming activities.
Most casinos in Vietnam are restricted to foreign passport holders, making them reliant on international tourism. However, a pilot program launched by the Finance Ministry last year allowed select Vietnamese citizens to access casinos by paying a $95 daily entry fee or a monthly pass costing approximately $1,900.
Royal International Corporation had previously set an ambitious revenue target of $7.6 million for 2026 and aimed for post-tax profits exceeding $500,000. Yet, with the year half over, the operator has only achieved about 38% of its revenue goals, placing significant strain on the business. Currently, gaming revenues have plummeted by 50%, dropping to around $646,000, while non-gaming revenues from hotels, food and beverage services, and other areas have shown growth in the second quarter.
The company identified the ongoing 2026 World Cup as a major contributor to the profit decline. According to RIC, the tournament has increased global entertainment expenditures, leading high-end clients to visit casinos less frequently. Additionally, RIC mentioned that rising fuel prices, driven by geopolitical tensions, have increased airfares, negatively influencing the flow of international tourists to the region.
The second quarter typically represents the offseason for international tourism in Ha Long, resulting in reduced cruise ship traffic. Even so, data from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism indicated nearly a 15% increase in tourist arrivals during the first half of the year. The Vietnamese government aims to attract 25 million foreign tourists by 2026.
Royal Ha Long features 18 live gaming tables and 62 electronic gaming machines. The operator, which launched on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange in 2007, was delisted in May 2022 due to three consecutive years of losses and now trades on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM).
In a similar vein, gaming analysts in Macao have also pointed to the World Cup as a factor in diminished gaming spending, with a reported 2.6% year-on-year decline in VIP room receipts at leading casinos in the region.
