Cabinet restricts online gaming

BANGKOK: -- The cabinet today passed a set of regulations which will limit online gaming among under 18’s to no more than three hours a day.

The regulations, proposed by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), come amid growing fears in government circles that young people are becoming addicted to online computer games.

Reports from other countries suggest that gaming in excess of three hours a day can act very much like a narcotic drug, leaving players unable to distinguish between reality and fiction.

Government Spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said that the new regulations would not only limit gaming among minors to no more than three hours a day, but would also ban online gambling.

There will also be a new registration process for places offering online gaming services, while the government has committed itself to a campaign concerning the downside of addictive gaming.

These regulations will now be laid down as a set of Interior Ministry rules.

However, Mr. Jakrapob conceded today that they were only initial measures, as the problem was blowing up out of control, with some young people playing online games all night until dawn.

Many games, meanwhile, were attempting to persuade players to engage in marathon gaming sessions, or were offering attractive prizes, he said.

Accusing online games of destroying the mental and physical health of Thai youths, he said that online gaming ran counter to government policies of human resources development.

--TNA 2004-11-23

Let's see how they are going to enforce this?

BANGKOK: --  The cabinet today passed a set of regulations which will limit online gaming among under 18’s to no more than three hours a day.

Hard to imagine that the poo-yai in the upper echelons of the Thai government don't have anything more pressing on their collective agenda than this.

BANGKOK: --  The cabinet today passed a set of regulations which will limit online gaming among under 18’s to no more than three hours a day.

Hard to imagine that the poo-yai in the upper echelons of the Thai government don't have anything more pressing on their collective agenda than this.

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We had crackdowns on drugs, alcohol, prostitution, gambling and now online gambling. Thailand is becoming quite the 'nanny state' with it's current philosophy.

I wish they would put restictions on that F'kin chipmunk kid, sick to that back teeth of that chirpy little &lt;deleted&gt;. Wish someone would ram it's finger into it's eye next time it does the pointing at the cheek thing

If it is so addictive why not open a few thousand gaming shops 24/7 down in the south. Everyone will be so busy playing the bombing will stop.

Hard to imagine that the poo-yai in the upper echelons of the Thai government don't have anything more pressing on their collective agenda than this.  

Thaksin and the TRT party always had "social order" high on their agenda, so this kind of thing isn't surprising really. Phalang Tham, which nurtured our Dear Leader in the early days, was a political/religious movement closely liked to Santi Asoke "fundamentalist" Buddhists, and its leader Chamlong (now Thaksin's advisor) personally sank a pro-abortion bill when he was Interior Minister back in the 70s. These guys are not liberals.

If it is so addictive why not open a few thousand gaming shops 24/7 down in the south.  Everyone will be so busy playing the bombing will stop.

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Video gambling is highly addictive but I doubt the muslims down south will get online enough to forget they feel repressed by the majority. A pity, as this would be a perfect solution.