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The Indian gaming and esports betting industry could reportedly be on the rise with a recently decision made by the government.
Esports will now officially be included in national multi-sport events with it set to be recognised via legislative action.
The news was broken by independent esports reporter Kuldeep Lather via his Twitter page.
The Indian esports betting industry has experienced significant growth in recent years due to the widespread availability of the internet and advancements in digital technology, particularly in PCs and handheld devices.
Indian gamers and content creators have achieved great accomplishments both nationally and globally in the esports scene. The fact that many creators are now able to create gaming content as a full-time career demonstrates impressive growth.
While esports in India has grown, it has also faced various uncertainties. One major issue has been the sudden prohibition of popular games such as PUBG, Free Fire, and BGMI, which has had a significant impact on the careers of many individuals.
In addition, the government’s blanket justification of “national security concerns” for the ban has not addressed the problems that arose from the sudden prohibition.
Despite being created with the support and guidance of the Indian government after PUBG’s ban, BGMI was shut down shortly after it began gaining popularity. At this time, there is no information available on the potential reversal of any of the bans on these titles.
Additionally, the government’s recognition of esports may bring positive prospects for regional gamers.
Esports was included as a pilot event in the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham earlier this year, demonstrating the international growth of the industry. Although esports had previously made its debut at the 2021 Asian Games, the 2022 edition was scheduled to include competitive gaming as a mainstream event, but the tournament has been delayed until 2023 due to the COVID pandemic.
It is expected that the recent decision will significantly alter the competitive gaming scene in the country. By being placed in the multi-sports category, competitive gaming tournaments will now be treated with the same level of recognition and importance as other physical sporting events.
Having hosted both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, it is possible that esports could be included as a category in the next Commonwealth Games or Asian Games to be hosted by India.
Additionally, the inclusion of esports in the multi-sports category will surely enhance the competitive gaming scene and lead to the creation of regional games that are more attuned to the preferences of both players and audiences in the region. Unlike in the West, professional gaming on handheld devices in India has seen a significant increase. This growth can be attributed to the availability of affordable devices and improved access to fast internet.
As mobile esports gaming has grown into a strong market, PC games such as FIFA 23 and Valorant have also gained popularity. These types of games are expected to increase the number of servers in India and encourage local gamers to pursue their hobbies as full-time professionals.
