Thailand is shifting nearer to adopting its first complete legislation devoted to the regulation of on-line and digital video games. The proposed Sport Business 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 count on the measure may move earlier than the top of 2025, marking a big shift within the nation’s strategy to gaming oversight.
Regulatory Framework and Enforcement Powers
The Sport Business 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 satisfy authorized or shopper safety requirements. Provisions additionally tackle particular mechanics—equivalent to fortunate attracts and points-based reward techniques—that threat resembling playing, making certain they continue to be inside acceptable limits.
Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, president of the Digital Economic system Promotion Company (depa), emphasised that the legislation is designed to foster market development relatively than prohibit it. “The legislation shouldn’t be a barrier, however relatively a mechanism to control the gaming market to make sure equity and facilitate free and accountable market competitors,” he acknowledged. Depa, working alongside the Ministry of Digital Economic system and Society (DES) and the Ministry of Tradition, performed a number one position in drafting the invoice.
The act contains 5 central parts: updating recreation definitions, forming committees to supervise regulation and promotion, implementing registration techniques, establishing supervision by cyber and provincial police, and creating an business fund. As soon as in place, three separate committees would handle registration, monitoring, and business growth, serving to forestall overlapping obligations.
Progress Potential and World Competitiveness
Thailand’s gaming business has grown into a serious contributor to the economic system, valued at between 30 and 40 billion baht yearly—roughly US$1.23 billion. Based on Nuttapon, the market may broaden to as a lot as 100 billion baht inside the subsequent decade. “This business has plenty of alternatives,” he famous, highlighting its hyperlinks with schooling, leisure, sports activities, and cultural actions throughout Asia.
Authorities businesses, together with the Comptroller-Common’s Division and the Nationwide Broadcasting and Telecommunications Fee, have already signaled help, allocating funding to strengthen the sector as soon as the legislation takes impact. Proponents imagine the brand new framework may improve Thailand’s competitiveness, notably in esports, the place the nation seeks to turn out to be a regional chief.
On line casino Laws Shelved, Focus Shifts to Digital Video games
The progress of the Sport Business Act comes towards the backdrop of Thailand’s determination 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 Leisure Complicated Invoice, which proposed 5 casinos nationwide. Regardless of 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 beneath his management.
Analysts notice 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 Sport Business 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 growth is anticipated to strengthen investor confidence and help 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 gives “an essential alternative to display Thailand’s place as a pacesetter within the gaming business in Asia.” He added that the timing of the occasion alongside the potential passage of the Sport Business Act may considerably increase the nation’s world profile.
Supply:
Depa eagerly awaits Sport Business Act, bangkokpost.com, October 6, 2025.
