Thailand is moving ahead with a draft Promotion of the Game Industry Act that would create the country’s first central regulatory framework for video games, with a focus on curbing “hidden gambling” elements such as randomised rewards and prize draws, The Nation reported.
Assist Prof Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, president and CEO of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa), said the draft law — already endorsed by the Comptroller General’s Department and allocated funding from the NBTC — will soon be submitted to Cabinet.
Once enacted, it will empower the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau to suspend unregistered games and audit operators for compliance with safety and transparency standards.
The legislation, in development for more than a year, would establish three committees overseeing registration, regulation, and industry promotion. Nuttapon stressed the bill “is not intended to restrict competition but to regulate the market fairly and sustainably,” while boosting Thai developers’ global competitiveness.
If approved, Thailand would become the first ASEAN country with dedicated game legislation and the fourth in Asia, after China, Japan and South Korea.
The move comes as Bangkok prepares to host Gamescom Asia 2025 this month, a first for Thailand after years in Singapore, in a bid to showcase the nation’s growing role in the regional gaming industry.
Last month, Thailand’s Senate formally rejected a draft bill seeking to establish integrated entertainment complexes with casinos, citing risks to social stability, economic security, and national safety.
