Thailand to consider law on “hidden gambling” in video games

The Draft Game Industry Promotion Act aims to regulate in-game monetisation systems.

Thailand.- The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa) is advancing the Promotion of the Game Industry Act. The proposed law aims to establish a regulatory framework for “hidden gambling” features in video games, such as loot boxes, prize draws and point-based reward systems.

The draft law, developed over the past year, has already been endorsed by the Comptroller General’s Department’s revolving fund committee and allocated funding from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). It will empower the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau to suspend unregistered games, while operators will be measured for compliance with safety, fairness and transparency standards.

According to Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, Depa’s president and CEO, the law’s intent is not to restrict competition but to make the Thai game market “fair and sustainable.” It mandates the creation of three new bodies: a Registration Committee, a Regulatory and Inspection Committee (led by Cyber Police and Provincial Police), and a Game Industry Promotion Committee.

The move comes ahead of Gamescom Asia 2025 in Bangkok on October 16, marking the first time the major gaming industry event will be held outside Singapore.

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The Draft Game Industry Promotion Act aims to regulate in-game monetisation systems. Thailand.- The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa) is advancing the Promotion of the Game Industry Act. The proposed…