According to Vietnamese Ministry of Finance, its citizens spend about USD 2 billion a year on betting, lottery and gambling via TV and online, reported local media VietNamNet Bridge this week.

The ministry discovered programs planned by Internet service providers, radio, TV and press agencies are conducting illegal gambling activities and profiting by charging high S.M.S. fees.

As the popularity of these prohibited activities increase, the finance ministry is taking “cautious steps” in coming up with a plan to legalize and regulate it, the newspaper said.