India is officially giving e-sports a big push. The government’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2025 will recognise e-sports as a competitive sport, separate from real-money gaming. This move brings long-awaited clarity to the industry.

Under the Bill, India will set up training academies, research centres, and awareness programmes to promote e-sports. Incentives and public campaigns aim to make the country a global hub, just like cricket or football. The government also plans to work with states and sports federations to ensure e-sports gets mainstream recognition.

Industry leaders have welcomed the move, calling it a “historic turning point.” Companies like JetSynthesys, Skyesports, and S8UL believe the Bill will boost tournaments, jobs, and global partnerships. However, experts stress the need for clear definitions to avoid confusion between e-sports, casual gaming, and real-money gaming.

The Bill also promises long-term stability by building investor confidence and providing athletes, teams, and organisers a proper regulatory framework. With India’s young gaming population and global ambitions, this could be the foundation for a thriving new sports ecosystem.

The next step: building infrastructure, bootcamps, and scholarships to nurture the next generation of Indian e-sports talent.