July 22: The Indian government recently provided a major boost for online gaming by officially recognising eSports as a part of multi-sports events.
President Droupadi Murmu amended the rules and ordered India’s Department of Sports to act as the nodal agency for eSports in the country.
The move is a pivotal moment for the eSports industry in India, establishing it as a separate entity from other elements of the online gaming sector.
These include fantasy, rummy and casinos, which are categorised differently by the Indian government as they involve wagering.
The Indian president’s decision allows his country to join numerous other nations in Asia and the Middle East in jumping on the eSports bandwagon.
Competitive gaming has grown massively in popularity in recent years and is on track to become part of the Olympic movement over the next few years.
Increased interest from sponsors and broadcasters has helped eSports become a multi-billion-dollar sector, and one which is showing no signs of slowing down.
Lucrative link-ups with the online gambling industry have also benefited eSports, helping to give it the legitimacy enjoyed by the traditional sports sector.
This development is evidenced by many of the sites featured at arabswin.com/en/, which offer a wide range of odds on eSports throughout the year.
With eSports now officially recognised as a part of multi-sports events, punters will soon be able to wager on tournaments staged in India.
The timing of the news undoubtedly provides a significant lift to the organisers of an upcoming gaming festival in Bangalore.
India’s top eSports and gaming organisation S8UL is staging a two-day event on July 29-30 which will showcase the latest developments in the sector.
Sponsored by Intel and Lenovo, the festival will bring together publishers, gaming brands and developers to provide gaming fans with unique insights into the sector.
Some of the top streamers in Asia will be in attendance, many of whom have already made their mark on the professional eSports circuit.
The S8UL Gaming Festival also features community tournaments for popular titles such as FIFA 23 and Mortal Kombat, with a bumper prize pool up for grabs.
S8UL’s Co-Founder and CEO, Animesh Agarwal, believes the event will be the perfect opportunity for India to demonstrate its passion for online gaming.
“We are extremely proud to present the first ever S8UL Gaming Fest - a celebration that revolves around our incredible fans,” he said.
“This event is our way of giving back to the community that has not only been a part of but also supported us heartily throughout our journey.
“It’s an opportunity for us to come together and create unforgettable memories together.”
S8UL will likely attract plenty of interest from gaming fans in the state of Madhya Pradesh, which is set to launch the country’s first-ever eSports academy.
This will include a talent search programme designed to identify gaming enthusiasts aged 12-17 who could be eSports stars in the future.
They will be given opportunities to progress up the eSports ladder, with the best exponents maybe even featuring in the Olympic Games.
The recent 2023 Olympic eSports Week in Singapore was the latest step along the road to full Olympic recognition and proved to be a massive success.
The shooting and motorsport competitions were extremely popular, while the virtual taekwondo event drew one of the biggest crowds of the week.
Having seen numerous Asian gamers demonstrate their talents in Singapore, the first crop of youngsters in India’s new eSports academy will be eager to follow in their footsteps.