Hanoi SEO Firm Raided for Promoting Illegal Gambling

Hanoi authorities have launched a criminal investigation into a local SEO company accused of assisting unlicensed gambling websites. On June 2, police announced that Pham Ngoc Manh, the CEO of Super Thi Seo Media Services Co., Ltd., along with 17 managers and employees, had been detained for allegedly providing illegal information through online networks.

Front for Unlicensed Gambling

Although the agency presented itself as a legitimate digital marketing and search engine optimization firm, investigators allege that its primary activity was promoting illegal gambling platforms. Super Thi Seo operated with a structured organization, including separate departments for marketing, search optimization, IT, customer service, and backlinking, all of which reportedly contributed to boosting the visibility of unlicensed gambling websites.

According to Vietnamnet, Pham Ngoc Manh is accused of managing 41 electronic wallets to receive payments in USDT cryptocurrency. Employee salaries were largely paid in cash, a method authorities say was intended to obscure financial transactions and complicate enforcement efforts.

During searches of locations linked to the company, police seized more than VND7 billion (approximately US$268,000) in cash, assets converted from cryptocurrency, a VND3 billion (US$115,000) savings account, 29 computers, and 41 mobile phones. Investigators estimate that from the beginning of 2026 until the uncovering of the investigation, the agency generated roughly VND3.7 billion (US$142,000) by promoting 22 Vietnamese-language gambling websites that lacked proper licensing.

Authorities have also imposed travel restrictions on 15 additional individuals associated with the case while the investigation continues. Police classified the offence as “illegally providing information through computer and telecommunications networks,” linking it specifically to the company’s SEO and traffic-generation services directed at prohibited gambling sites.

Broader Context

This crackdown aligns with wider efforts across the region to curb illegal online gambling. Similar enforcement actions have been reported in Indonesia, where authorities uncovered a network involving 320 foreign nationals running illicit online gambling operations. The Hanoi case underscores the increasing use of digital marketing firms by unlicensed operators to reach players, and the authorities’ response signals a focus on disrupting these support structures.

Vietnam has recently begun allowing local access to casinos, with the Grand Ho Tram opening in January, reflecting a gradual regulatory shift in the country’s gaming market. The current investigation into Super Thi Seo highlights that, despite these regulatory changes, promoting unlicensed gambling platforms remains a serious criminal offense, carrying potential penalties and extended enforcement scrutiny.