In the 21st century, technology has penetrated every aspect of human lives. What seemed like a distant dream in the past century is possible today with just a tap of the fingers. Gaming is one such sector that has evolved from traditional to digital and now to online games.
In the Indian context, gaming has been ingrained into our tradition and culture. Our ancient scriptures ranging from mainstream mythologies such as Ramayana and Mahabharata to our Vedic literature, have all mentioned gaming as a source of entertainment and lifestyle. With time, the nature of these games has changed from physical sports to board games.
Today, these games have further evolved to include various forms of gaming such as fantasy, e-sports, real money games, and so on. The Online Gaming Industry (OGI) in India has managed to capture a market size that has exceeded the revenue of the music and cinema industry.
OGI has become a major component of the Animation, VFX, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) Industry. This industry has gotten a further boost from the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who gave the clarion call for “Create in India” for a Viksit Bharat. The gaming industry in India has emerged as an indigenous sector that continues to grow and has the potential to place India as a hub for global dominance in the gaming market.
At this critical juncture, the OGI in India needs a safe and sustainable market to flourish. However, this industry has been grappling with challenges. Some of the key areas of focus for the gaming industry are navigating the taxation framework, the proliferation of illegal offshore gaming platforms, and ensuring compliance while fostering sustainable growth for legal gaming operators within this rapidly evolving sector.
Moreover, the illegitimate players have become a honey pot for data pilferage, and money laundering and even pose a threat to India’s national security.
Thus, the need to regularise this market becomes imperative. The need for a clear distinction between legitimate companies and illegitimate companies offering similar games and endorsed by celebrities has become more pronounced today. These similarities confuse the users and lead to a divide in revenue generation. Today, India has 40% of global gamers but only 1% of global gaming revenue. Therefore, the need to regularise this industry is vital.
Further, user safety is another issue that needs to be addressed. The legitimate players have been taking an active step in ensuring that the users have a safe environment on their platforms. These platforms offer time prompts, spending prompts, and so on. However, the illegitimate platforms offer no such prompts which are often harmful to users and lead to various social and behavioural issues.
The Government of India needs to find a balance between user safety and the economic potential of the gaming industry. Stringent laws about consumer protection, data and privacy protections, age gating, and whitelisting of gaming companies are the way forward for ensuring a sustainable future for this industry.
“Viksit Bharat” is not just a dream for India; it is an ever-lasting milestone for the Indian subcontinent. Our goal as a nation should be to ensure that the sectors contributing significantly to this mission are preserved and allowed to flourish.
As Western countries have established themselves as leaders in technological advancements, India must embrace and accelerate the potential of gaming to position itself as a global leader. By addressing challenges, prioritizing user safety, and fostering a regulated market, India can harness the true economic and cultural potential of its gaming industry , taking a giant leap towards a Viksit Bharat.
