The rise of online gaming in Thailand
Online gaming in Thailand increased in popularity in correlation with the country’s high levels of internet penetration in recent years. The introduction of fifth-generation technology or 5G coverage in Thailand has contributed to the accelerating growth of the gaming industry. Due to lower latency, gamers using 5G connections experience fewer lags and faster live streaming speeds. This improvement in streaming quality allows more Thai consumers to watch online gaming streams through popular platforms such as Twitch, YouTube Live, and Facebook gaming. It also allows more people to create online gaming content, which further markets online gaming to potential players. Additionally, rising smartphone penetration rates have also contributed to the popularity of online gaming since smartphones are a highly accessible option for consumers to play games on the go.The recent COVID-19 pandemic has also considerably pushed the popularity of online gaming since it allows consumers to spend time together remotely amid social distancing regulations. These combined factors have escalated Thailand’s online gaming environment, contributing to the country’s overall gaming market size, making it one of the largest compared to other countries in Southeast Asia in 2020.
