People’s Party MP Pawoot Pongvitayapanu has urged the government to support Thai-owned game development, saying Thailand must capture more value from its 37-billion-baht gaming market.
Mr Pawoot, chairman of a sub-committee on enhancing digital competitiveness, said Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa) data showed the market was worth more than 37 billion baht in 2025, but games with Thai-owned intellectual property (IP) accounted for just 591 million baht.
He said the industry could create jobs for programmers, designers, artists and writers, while successful games could be developed into films and other products for global markets.
He urged the Digital Economy and Society Ministry and Depa to expedite a bill to promote the gaming industry.
The bill would establish a national committee to oversee long-term industry development, create a fund to support Thai developers and improve the game-rating system to meet international standards.
Mr Pawoot stressed that the law should support businesses rather than impose restrictions that prevent small operators and Thai studios from growing and competing internationally.
The People’s Party has also drafted its own version of the bill, which Mr Pawoot hopes parliament will consider alongside the government’s draft.
He added that the government should not wait for the legislative process to conclude before supporting the industry, saying investment promotion measures could be introduced immediately.