The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry is revising the draft of the Games Industry Promotion Act to broaden the definition of games to include board games, trading cards and related commercial activities.
DES Minister Chaichanok Chidchob said he assigned a team to review the draft as the previous version focused too much on regulation and control rather than promoting the growth of the games industry.
"The existing draft also fails to adequately reflect the business models and wider structure that have emerged around games," he said.
The review will examine whether the legal definition of games should cover not only video games, but also board games, trading card games and other activities and businesses linked to the industry, Mr Chaichanok said.
For example, Pokémon trading cards are a concept that combines collecting, gameplay, competition and commercial opportunities.
He said he wants to see progress on the draft revision this year, although no specific deadline has been set.
The revision is also intended to ensure the legislation keeps pace with evolving business models and provides a more appropriate framework for Thai game developers.
Another change is the proposed inclusion of intellectual property (IP) development in the legislation. Mr Chaichanok said Thailand must build and strengthen home-grown IP based on Thai culture, content and national identity.
He pointed to Japan and China as examples of countries that have successfully developed characters and other creative content into games and other commercial products, allowing them to build large user bases and generate broader economic value.
Thailand has skilled programmers, gamers and game developers, but the country remains heavily dependent on imported games and related products.
Mr Chaichanok said some highly skilled Thais choose to work overseas because the domestic environment does not provide sufficient opportunities for the industry to develop.
He said the new legislation should focus on creating an environment in which Thai companies can develop products, build businesses and compete internationally, while encouraging skilled professionals to remain in the country.
Mr Chaichanok dismissed speculation that the slow development of the law was attributed to the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) lacking a chief executive, as the recruitment process continues.
The initial draft was created during the tenure of former DES minister Prasert Jantararuangtong. The ministry assigned depa to write a draft in October 2024, followed by a public consultation in January 2025.