Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem has required relevant ministries to issue an inter-ministerial circular to temporarily manage online gaming, as the State’s current management has not kept up with new development.

In a document sent to relevant sectors, Khiem said online gaming could continue to develop strongly, but it had negative effects on society, especially for youths.

While State agencies had taken the initiative in managing such operations, Khiem said they had failed to conduct fundamental and synchronous measures.

Khiem requested that relevant sectors focus on coordinating concrete measures to closely manage suppliers and distributors of online game programmes and ensure that business agents and players show their responsibilities in the interests of the society and community.

The Ministry of Culture and Information, in coordination with the Central Commission for Ideology and Culture and relevant agencies, should instruct the mass media to increase public information about online games and the State’s management of these services to ensure that the entertainment services suit the national customs and traditions to minimize the negative effects of online gaming.

The Ministry of Finance, in coordination with the ministries of Culture and Information and Post and Telecommunications, should build and supplement financial policies’ suitable for importers, suppliers and distributors of online games and encourage domestic firms to produce online games with healthy contents.

The Ministry of Public Security should cooperate with relevant sectors to strengthen inspections and strictly handle violations of online gaming operations and direct police at the local-level to carry out necessary measures to protect security and effectively prevent crimes resulting from online gaming.

(Source: VNA)