Indian official Sushil Kumar Modi called on the country to take control of how much time and money citizens are allowed to spend gaming online. This level of draconian interference is on par with recent restrictive actions in China.
While Western countries argue the merits of the “lootboxes are precursors to gambling” position taken by the thinking gaming community India is firmly backing it.
Indian MP Sushil Kumar Modi took a page out of China's playbook and called on the government to step in and regulate the gaming industry because he fears gamers are "difficult to parent". In an incredible leap of logic, he has linked a pandemic related increase in online gaming and spending to a future boom in online gambling!
Gaming to Gambling Crossover
Speaking at the Council of States recently Modi discussed the potential for the recent increase in interest and participation in online gaming to lead to an increase in online gambling in India.
Modi called for parliamentary action saying:
“I would ask the government of India to make a comprehensive framework of regulation for online gaming.”
He cited statistics showing that since the pandemic time spent gaming online has increased by 40% and that the number of ‘online gamers’ now tops the 43 million mark. Mobile gaming has nearly doubled with app downloads increasing from 1.86 billion to just over 3 billion within less than 12 months.
What he was more concerned about than the volume of play is the money spent pursuing this form of online entertainment, most of which sees the revenue leave India and benefit other countries. The projection of Indian online gaming puts the market at €340 million by 2025.
Does Gaming Spend = Gambling Spend?
Historically India has always shown itself to be a region with a passion for online gambling especially when considering the nationwide fervour for games like Teen Patti. However, India has always been a vehemently anti-gambling jurisdiction which led to a strong black market gambling market with large swathes of players frequenting unregulated online casinos and betting sites.
With the recent move by key states to decriminalise online gambling however local players have been able to practise their hobby legally for the first time and as such the market has seen phenomenal financial results.
With a 40% increase in time spent gaming online since the pandemic Modi and others who share his views are concerned that as players move from spending money on online gaming, they will begin to spend their money gambling online.
In the world we live in, and especially since the pandemic, shopping online is a common occurrence. It is concerning when political leaders look to give the government control over your ability to spend your time and your money as you see fit.
China recently took a similar view of gaming and now limits online gaming to only 3 hours a week, that level of government interference should not be encouraged, especially when there is no proof, only concerns.
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