In a nutshell, eSports Policies do not exist in India. This is a gross aberration, considering eSports is the fastest growing sport in the country. Puritans will argue that eSports is not really a sport. To start with, the space is cluttered with the different games, each having its own set of rules and game dynamics. Secondly, playing ‘video games’ cannot be compared to traditional sports such as football, cricket and the 100 mtr dash. If that is the case, then what has motivated the IOC to include eSport in its charter and top football clubs in Europe to introduce parallel FIFA teams to their roster?
eSports is new age competitive gaming. Although, it has existed for the better part of the last 3 decades, the last 15 years has seen the space explode to become a huge industry to reckon with. Investments running into billions of dollars, top broadcasters offering run time on their schedule, and nations tabling eSport specific policies in their parliaments are all testimony to the growing clout of this new age sport.
Contrary to trends in Europe and the far-east, India is far behind in its endeavour to officially recognise this phenomena. Currently, three state governments have gone ahead and banned ‘online gaming’. Their inability to declassify eSports from online gambling has been the biggest contention to the new policies. Technically, someone competing in an online BGMI tournament for cash in a two-tier town in Karnataka- is breaking the law. This is a huge anomaly to the growth of eSports in the country, Traditional powerhouse brands like TATA have also entered the arena to sponsor tournaments, recognising the potential of growth but, the state machinery is still lagging behind in its understanding.
The reason eSports policies are archaic, at best, but mostly non-existing in the country, is because of a lack of understanding to what eSports actually is. Having a basket of ‘online games’ that includes fantasy gaming and gambling is a gross injustice to the competitive nature of eSports. Study has shown top eSport athletes go through the same stresses as a top professional cricketer. The strive to be the best involves long hours of training, just as a footballer would slug it out on the field day in and day out in order to get lucrative contracts and break in to the national team. But this is unrecognised in India for eSports.
Currently, there are new federations sprouting up in the country nearly every other week. Organisations, each with their own vested interest in the future of Indian Esports, are trying to find their footing in a space which has no formal recognition. IOA announced last year that eSports will be a sport in which India will participate for the Asian games and Olympics. Yet, there is still no national charter and official communication on how the teams and players who will represent the country are going to be selected.
For a country that has been labelled as a sleeping giant in not only sports like football but also competitive gaming, the lack of eSport policies to promote healthy growth is a huge deficit in its progress. While organisations with vested interests fight it out for the crown, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Independent organisations like eSport Players Welfare Association have come into being, looking out for the well-being of the players. This is an almost new territory for the sport, not only in India but also globally. EPWA is trying to build the community of eSport athletes, shedding light on the plight of the players who are at the receiving end of no concrete policies existing in the country.
The future of eSports is definitely positive in the country, but a lack of eSport policies may be a huge deterrent for Indian players being world beaters. We hope the government is proactive in setting standards for the sport and can lean on independent organisations like the EPWA in charting a positive road ahead for the growth of eSports.
