Outline:
Enhancing Financial Literacy Through Play
The second annual ‘Wishlist Thailand Tournament 2025’ is a unique initiative that combines fun and learning to build essential financial skills among participants. This event, organized by Sea (Thailand), which operates platforms like Garena, Shopee, and Monee, in collaboration with the Institute of Board Game for Learning, aims to promote personal financial skills and resilience through the ‘Wishlist: Allocate Money, Fulfill Your Dreams’ board game. The tournament has expanded its reach to include not only students and teachers but also families and the general public, making it an inclusive platform for financial education.
With a prize pool exceeding 50,000 baht and prestigious trophies, the final round of the tournament was recently held at EmSphere in Bangkok. Mrs. Puttawan Suphataranant, Corporate Communications Director at Sea (Thailand), emphasized the importance of instilling financial skills from a young age. She noted that this aligns with the recommendations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which advocates for embedding financial education in school curricula. Together with partners such as Wizard of Learning and The Money Coach, Sea developed the board game as a fun and accessible tool to help players understand and apply real-life financial concepts.
Expanding the Reach of Financial Education
This year’s tournament featured three categories: Student Representatives (upper secondary), General Public, and Family. Each category offered a creative and engaging way for participants to build their financial skills through gameplay. In the Student Representatives category, over 86 schools from four regions participated, with the top 40 advancing to the final round. Mr. Thankhun Munsang from Chumphaesuksa School in the Northeast emerged as the champion, receiving 15,000 baht in prize money, a 5,000 baht grant for his school, and the Wishlist Thailand Tournament 2025 trophy from the Ministry of Education.
The General Public category attracted over 60 participants, with Ms. Rungnapa Jansoem winning first place and receiving a 10,000 baht cash prize and the tournament trophy from Sea (Thailand). The Family category, introduced this year, allowed primary-school pupils to compete alongside family members, fostering conversations about money at home. Mr. Thanadol Kulchiwiwutkit and Mr. Panchapat Thongdang won the title, taking home a 10,000 baht cash prize and the tournament trophy.
Collaborative Efforts for Financial Resilience
The tournament received support from various partner organizations committed to promoting financial literacy. These include the Bank of Thailand, the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC), the Board Game Designers and Publishers Association, TK Park, the Thailand Board Game Association, and Wizards of Learning. Their involvement highlights the collaborative nature of the initiative and the shared goal of enhancing financial education across different sectors.
During the event, knowledge-sharing sessions and panel discussions were held, including one titled ‘Elevating Financial Resilience for Thais: The Power of Board Games Utilisation’. Panellists included representatives from the Bank of Thailand, the OIC, the Stock Exchange of Thailand, and Sea (Thailand). Another panel, ‘Financial Lessons Simply Start with Playing Board Games at Home and School’, featured experts who discussed how to communicate financial concepts effectively to young people and within families.
Mr. Jakkapong Mespan, known as the Money Coach and a designer of the ‘Wishlist’ board game, highlighted the educational value of the game. He explained that the game encourages players to analyze, plan, and make systematic decisions that can be applied in real-life scenarios. Features such as unexpected expenses, rising costs, and credit options help players navigate realistic financial situations, fostering a deeper understanding of financial tools and healthy habits.
A Platform for Learning and Engagement
The event also included a ‘Wishlist: Allocate Money, Fulfil Your Dreams’ board game trial zone, where children, young people, and families could experience the game firsthand. This provided parents with an opportunity to discuss and advise on financial matters with their children. Additionally, activity booths from various partners offered creative educational experiences, further enriching the learning environment.
Mr. Warut Nimityont, Director of the Institute of Board Game for Learning, emphasized the role of the board game in proactive financial education. He noted that the game is designed to be accessible and inclusive, especially for children and young people who are open to new and engaging learning experiences. He also mentioned that the game has been showcased at international events such as the Taiwan Original Board Game Expo and SPIEL Essen in Germany, highlighting the global potential of Thai board games in driving meaningful social impact.
Expanding Access to Financial Education
The ‘Wishlist: Allocate Money, Fulfil Your Dreams’ board game covers key financial concepts such as income management, spending prioritization, cash flow control, debt management, and generating additional income. By simulating real-life financial scenarios, the game provides a practical platform for players to develop effective financial planning skills and adopt responsible financial behaviors. To date, the game has been distributed to more than 500 schools, learning centers, and leading board-game retailers across Thailand. It is also available in a Print and Play format via seaacademy.com, with over 2,000 downloads and a reach of more than 180,000 individuals nationwide.
Wizard of Learning, a co-developer of the board game, is making ‘Wishlist: Allocate Money, Fulfil Your Dreams’ available for purchase to broaden access across all segments of society. For more information, interested parties can visit the official Facebook page of Wizard of Learning or SE-ED Book Center, the game’s official distributor.
The Wishlist Thailand Tournament 2025 reaffirms the role of board games as inclusive educational tools that resonate across all age groups. It highlights the power of cross-sector collaboration in nurturing financial resilience from an early age. Through fun, accessible, and practical learning, Sea (Thailand) and its partners are committed to embedding financial literacy as a lifelong skill. They believe that financial education should begin at home, extend into classrooms, and ripple across society, laying the foundation for a financially savvy and sustainable future.