Earlier this month, the Indian Minister of State For Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju, was seen answering the questions about the policy that deals with gaming and esports in the questions session. He stated that online sports are emerging as an industry for the youth of the country and there are a large number of esports enthusiasts in India. The minister also acknowledged that the government knows the differences between gaming and gambling and that there are no officially recognized institutions/governing bodies that have been established particularly for esports.
It’s a well-known fact that India is a cricket-loving country which also leads to an increase in the people being interested in online betting as well. With a lot of people being exposed to the internet, cricket betting offers a unique opportunity for online bookmakers to make a huge customer base. Despite these vast numbers of internet users, there is a lack of awareness when it comes to cricket betting and the onus for the same is on various online bookmakers out there.
Jagdambika Pal, Member of Lok Sabha raised some of the questions to the Minister of State of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju regarding “Gaming and e-Sports Policy” in India. He asked whether the Government has any plan to introduce a Gaming and e-Sports Policy in India and if so, asked for some details.
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Replying to it Rijiju said that that e-Sports is an emerging platform for the youngsters in India and a large number of e-Sports enthusiasts in our country. It is included in Asian Games 2022 as a medal sports discipline but not yet included in the Olympics. Questioning further, the other minister asked whether the Government has any plans to bring esports and gaming in the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
Answering the query, the sports minister said that they are aware of the fact that e-Sports is different from gaming or igaming and gambling, betting etc. as the former is skill-based while the latter is chance-based. In India, there are some Federations such as Electronic Sports Federation of India (ESFI), E-sports Development Association of India (EDAI), and E-sports India (EI), which have emerged for the promotion of e-Sports. Currently, no Federations/Associations have been recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
Kiren Raju also talked about the estimates on the size/value of the gaming industry in India. He explained that “Sports” being a State subject, the State/UT Government is responsible for the development and promotion of sports rests. The Department of Sports supplements the efforts of the State/UT Government through its various schemes. Presently, there is no proposal under consideration to bring sports and gaming to the concurrent list.
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The sports minister was also asked about whether the Government has any plans in order to regulate the illegal gaming, betting, and gambling in India. Replying to the same, he said, betting and gambling is a State Subject (Entry at serial number 34 in the List II- State List of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India), therefore, the State authorities have the right to regulate/curb illegal gaming, betting, and gambling in their respective States.
The Law Commission in its Report No. 276 titled “ Legal Framework: Gambling and Sports Betting including Cricket in India” submitted to the Government on 5th July 2018, stated that legalizing betting and gambling is not desirable in India in the present scenario.
