Esports in India After the Ban: Opportunity or Setback?
India’s gaming industry has been on a meteoric rise, with esports at the very center of this growth story. But the recent crackdown on real-money gaming has created ripples across the ecosystem. The question many are asking now: where does this leave esports? The Confusion Between Esports and Betting One of the biggest challenges India faces today is the tendency to lump esports together with betting and gambling. This oversimplification does a disservice not only to the players but also to the industry at large. Esports is about skill, practice, and competition — not chance. By blurring these lines, policymakers risk slowing down a sector with massive potential. The Silver Lining While the ban on real-money gaming creates uncertainty, it may also represent a turning point. For esports, this could be the moment to differentiate itself clearly in the eyes of regulators, investors, and the public. By emphasizing the skill-based nature of competitive gaming, esports organizations...