Thailand is shifting nearer to adopting its first complete regulation devoted to the regulation of on-line and digital video games. The proposed Game Industry Act, drafted earlier this 12 months, goals to set clear boundaries between gaming and playing, whereas offering an official regulatory and tax framework for the sector. Lawmakers anticipate the measure may move earlier than the top of 2025, marking a big shift within the nation’s method to gaming oversight.
Regulatory Framework and Enforcement Powers
The Game Industry Act would set up a devoted regulator tasked with registering video games, monitoring compliance, and making certain business security requirements are met. Authorities can be granted the facility to block unregistered titles and intervene in instances the place video games fail to meet authorized or client safety requirements. Provisions additionally handle particular mechanics—resembling fortunate attracts and points-based reward methods—that threat resembling playing, making certain they continue to be inside acceptable limits.
Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, president of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), emphasised that the regulation is designed to foster market development quite than limit it. “The law is not a barrier, but rather a mechanism to regulate the gaming market to ensure fairness and facilitate free and responsible market competition,” he acknowledged. Depa, working alongside the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) and the Ministry of Culture, performed a number one function in drafting the invoice.
The act contains 5 central components: updating sport definitions, forming committees to oversee regulation and promotion, implementing registration methods, establishing supervision by cyber and provincial police, and creating an business fund. Once in place, three separate committees would handle registration, monitoring, and business improvement, serving to forestall overlapping tasks.
Growth Potential and Global Competitiveness
Thailand’s gaming business has grown into a serious contributor to the financial system, valued at between 30 and 40 billion baht yearly—roughly US$1.23 billion. According to Nuttapon, the market may develop to as a lot as 100 billion baht inside the subsequent decade. “This industry has a lot of opportunities,” he famous, highlighting its hyperlinks with training, leisure, sports activities, and cultural actions throughout Asia.
Government businesses, together with the Comptroller-General’s Department and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, have already signaled assist, allocating funding to strengthen the sector as soon as the regulation takes impact. Proponents imagine the brand new framework may improve Thailand’s competitiveness, significantly in esports, the place the nation seeks to grow to be a regional chief.
Casino Legislation Shelved, Focus Shifts to Digital Games
The progress of the Game Industry Act comes towards the backdrop of Thailand’s choice to droop a controversial push to legalize built-in on line casino resorts. Earlier this 12 months, the cupboard had accredited a draft of the Entertainment Complex Bill, which proposed 5 casinos nationwide. Despite momentum, political scandals involving former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra derailed the initiative. Following her impeachment, her successor Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that on line casino laws wouldn’t be revisited below his management.
Analysts be aware that whereas the on line casino business may have positioned Thailand as one of many world’s largest gaming markets—with potential gross gaming revenues estimated at 308 trillion baht yearly—the federal government is now focusing its power on regulating digital and social video games as a substitute.
Thailand as a Regional Gaming Hub
If handed, the Game Industry Act would make Thailand the primary ASEAN nation to enact such a law and the fourth in Asia, becoming a member of China, Japan, and South Korea. This improvement is predicted to strengthen investor confidence and assist Thailand’s ambitions to place itself as a gaming hub for the area.
The worldwide concentration is going to quickly flip to Bangkok, as Gamescom Asia 2025 prepares to host its first version within the Thai capital from October 16–19. The occasion, organized by depa and companions, was beforehand held in Singapore. Nuttapon underscored its significance, saying Gamescom supplies “an important opportunity to demonstrate Thailand’s position as a leader in the gaming industry in Asia.” He added that the timing of the occasion alongside the potential passage of the Game Industry Act may considerably increase the nation’s world profile.
Source:
Depa eagerly awaits Game Industry Act, bangkokpost.com, October 6, 2025.
