Proposal Restricts Children to 60 Minutes of Gaming Per Daily Session

The Authority of Broadcasting, Electronic Information (ABEI) is gathering feedback. The agency operates under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Officials are amending Decree 147/2024. The decree covers internet management and usage.

Under current rules, minors under 18 can play up to 60 minutes per individual game. They face a maximum cap of 180 minutes daily across all games. The draft rule cuts this limit down. Children under 16 may only play 60 minutes per day total.

“The new rule stops cumulative calculations,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen stated. She serves as Deputy Director of ABEI. She spoke during a consultation conference on the afternoon of July 23. Children can play one game or multiple titles. Either way, they face a strict 60-minute daily limit.

Regulators also proposed mandatory health warnings. Clearer age-based game classifications will join these warnings. Decree 147 currently requires firms to display a specific notice. It warns that playing over 180 minutes daily harms health. However, past rules omitted exact duration and frequency requirements.

A person playing a shooting game on a mobile phone. The game interface displays a warning stating that playing for more than 180 minutes a day adversely affects health. Photo: Trong Dat

The former regulation lacked strict enforcement, the Deputy Director noted. Some publishers displayed notices for extremely brief periods. Players could barely read or notice them in time.

Authorities proposed a fix for this loophole. G1 video games must display health warnings once every 30 minutes. Each appearance must last at least 10 seconds. G2 video games must show warnings for a minimum of 15 seconds. The draft also introduces refined criteria for age-based game ratings.

Furthermore, the new rules shape specific industry policies. They aim to nurture Vietnam’s domestic gaming sector. Local firms will produce qualifying games. These titles must feature educational content. They must also promote Vietnamese culture and history.

Such games will enjoy preferential incentive mechanisms. Specifically, qualifying titles will gain approval for pilot releases. This happens prior to official licensing. Developers will also receive personal and corporate income tax cuts.

VNG Games shared feedback on the draft. A company representative noted that the new rules help the gaming sector overall. However, the firm proposed adjusting several specific provisions.

VNG Games suggested a uniform display interval for health warnings. This rule would apply across all games without genre differences. The company also petitioned regulators to shorten display times. They want warnings to last 5 to 7 seconds instead of 10 to 15 seconds.

Child playtime will drop to 60 minutes. Therefore, VNG Games representatives argued for changes to warning texts. The wording must undergo synchronized adjustments.

The drafting committee explained the core goal. The decree amends and supplements Decree 147/2024. It aims to build a favorable legal framework for the cultural industry. The primary focus is driving Vietnam’s video game sector toward a professional and healthy path.