Industry officials say the electronic sports (e-sports) segment needs a governing framework to use its full potential.
This demand comes in the backdrop of a segment that has recorded rapid growth in recent years, with games for the Asian Games and possibly the Olympics.
According to a KPMG report, the revenue of the online gaming market, of which e-sports is a part, can touch the growth of hundreds of companies, content developers and millions of players in FY23 to FY11,880 crore.
“The proliferation of affordable smartphones, high-speed Internet and falling data prices are the primary catalysts for rapid growth,” said KPMG.
At the 2018 Asian Games, eSports was a demonstration event and medal ceremonies will be included in the 2022 Asian Games. There is also a possibility that entry to the Olympics be allowed, industry officials said.
E-sports are organized into gaming competitions in which players aim to win the tournament individually or as a team in a competitive gaming environment.
Officials said that as with any new area, this section would need to address a number of legal and regulatory issues.
Self regulation
Bimal Julka, chairman of the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports, said, “E-sports is going to grow into a multi-faceted fashion. “There should be a self-regulatory framework to govern them.
The Fantasy Sports Regulatory Authority has been formed with eminent people. We are trying to bring different bodies under one umbrella because we understand what kind of innovations and creativity we need.
“It should be a self-governing body for rules and ethics. It should not be a burden on the government. This is a newly formed industry, problems will arise and we will address them as we go. We need to do more.
Vinod Kumar Verma, President of the Sports Federation of India said, “The biggest challenge is how to regulate the various associations as their memorandum of action should be different and it will take time to streamline and bring transparency.”
He said that instead of giving undue benefits to the Union and the companies, policies should be favorable for the players and their welfare.
Analysts said that traditionally e-sports used to run on consoles or high-end gaming PCs, but the future of e-sports in India would be driven by mobile due to increased internet connectivity at cheaper rates.
The government is already looking at strengthening this space. Last year, NITI Aayog released Guiding Principles for the Uniform National-Level Regulation of Online Fantasy Sports Platform in India, indicating efforts towards establishing a governing framework for e-sports in India.
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