According to experts, instead of imposing direct or indirect limits on the industry, preventive algorithms that limit indulgent behavior could make a significant contribution to the growth of the skill-based online gaming sector in India.
State governments ought to prioritize setting regulatory limits that create a secure environment for people to enjoy online games rather than outright banning them.
Skill-based games conducted online or offline shouldn’t differ from one another. This, in turn, will benefit all parties throughout the value chain, including 5G telecom service providers, developers, and financial players, and improve gaming enterprises’ spirits.
According to reports from several sources, the Indian gaming industry is sure to reach around $25 billion in market value by 2030.
The fastest-growing sector of technology, online gaming, benefits from India’s advantages of a young talent pool and comparative costs. At a time when traditional IT services are entering a cycle of maturity in international markets, this sector could provide new opportunities for the growing pool of Indian tech developers.
These suggestions are a part of advice for the online gaming industry that was published by the Think Change Forum, an independent think tank with offices in Delhi that focuses on developing fresh concepts, identifying solutions, and anticipating future trends.
Regarding the discussion about legal aspects of online gaming, Founding Partner of A&P Partners, Arjun Sinha, said, “The law is clear. If an activity is not purely of the nature of gambling, the state does not have the power to exercise bans; instead, it should be given protection. Regulators can still recognize what are the adverse consequences of gaming activities and regulate those. Unfortunately, none of the states in India have gone down that path.”
“There are many solutions available in this space like globally; there are practices where gaming companies agree to norms such as preventing players from spending more than a fixed quantum of time and money in a day. Such measures are better suited to regulate online games than banning something that states do not have the power to do in the first place.”
He further explained that the gaming industry should incorporate preventive algorithms into their games because of the potential of AI technology. It should also be the main focus of regulatory action.
These algorithms should aid users in developing the skills necessary to know when to quit playing a game and report information that makes it simple to spot those who exhibit suspicious behavior.
Renowned clinical psychologist and TEDx speaker Dr. R.K. Suri said, “Any kind of blanket ban or prohibition is very harmful to society, and citizens look at ways of violating it even if it means going to the extent of adopting criminalized ways. Games through electronic processes today are a part and parcel of recreation and helpful in breaking away from routine, repetitive things. Distracting and cooling off the human mind is very important for stress management and protecting mental health.”
“Till date we have not been able to completely regulate a sector like the education sector making strict regulation impractical. Given the potential of the online gaming sector in attracting innovation, creativity, funding and revenues, policy planners and implementers need to consider allocating a part of these funds towards the preventive and curative aspects and not deter it. Policies need to be framed in consonance with the needs of the society, and policy makers should be visionaries and think of what needs to happen ten to twenty years down the line,” he further explained.
