Unpacking the Game Industry Act

The draft bill is expected to both regulate and promote a sector that observers expect to boom in the coming years

- KOMSAN TORTERMVASANA

The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry has assigned the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) to draft the country’s first Game Industry Act in collaboration with the Culture Ministry, creating a law that covers all dimensions of the digital game business and services.

Digital games are now available on a variety of devices and platforms.

WHY IS THE BILL NECESSARY?

State agencies have been concerned with online gaming as its content can sometimes include gambling activities.

This means it should be defined and supervised with clear regulatory conditions and a registration system, seeking a balance between monitoring and promoting the gaming ecosystem, noted the DES Ministry.

The ministry said the games category is more expansive than physical activities at internet cafes, motion pictures, or online platforms on both iOS and Android operating platforms.

The law should deal with the sophisticated development of the gaming sector, currently valued at 30-40 billion baht, while promoting Thailand to become a gaming hub in Southeast Asia, said the DES Ministry.

Earlier the Culture Ministry considered amending the Film Act by adding additional content to cover games. However, the DES and Culture ministries later agreed that games should be dealt with separately under a specific law.

Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, president of depa, said gaming has become a creative sector that plays an important role in the global economy.

“We expect the value of the local game industry to reach 100 billion baht within the next 10 years” he said.

Mr Nuttapon said game exports are valued at 800 million baht per year, with the sector tallying a trade deficit due to a higher import value.