Youth for Responsible Gaming (an initiative of Policy Matrix)

With the increasing popularity of console and traditional PC games, as well as online and mobile games, the gaming business is still expanding every day. The gaming industry has grown significantly in recent years thanks to the development of smartphones, quick internet access, huge numbers of mobile users, and more technologically sophisticated games. In the near future, this industry is anticipated to increase significantly as well.

There are other indicators of gaming’s progress. For instance, it’s now feasible to participate in esports, a global competition in which players compete for prize money that keeps rising across a variety of game brands and hardware platforms.

With 50% of the population under the age of 25, India has over 560 million internet users. The average age of the country’s gamers is under 25. Given these figures, no one should be surprised that India will soon dominate the video gaming business.

An important element for India is the rise of smartphones as a gaming platform. The market is made up of 85% mobile users, 11% PC users, and 4% tablet users. Mobile devices unquestionably command the largest portion of the industry, in large part because they are more widely available and cost-effective than other gaming hardware.

One may frequently use gaming abilities to get money through fantasy sports by honing gaming techniques and tactics to achieve triumph over other human players as well as a machine. It allows an individual to make money online in addition to having a team and winning the game. Additionally, reputable mobile and web applications are hosting these games in India. All the fundamentals are given to the players; all that is left to do is concentrate on developing their talents. Given the fact that a large percentage of India’s population is lower middle-class, it should come as no surprise that games with a focus on earning money are very popular.In order to safeguard people from the potentially harmful effects of gaming, authorities and organisations must create a set of rules and regulations known as “responsible gaming.” Assuring player privacy and building a platform where they can play safely are the two most important aspects of responsible gaming. The gaming industry must also foster and encourage settings that reduce or prevent addiction.

It is also against the law for underage kids to take part in some games because of age restrictions owing to their content. The gaming platforms must confirm the gamers’ identities and bar anyone under the age of 18 from playing. In addition to these fundamental rules, there are numerous other considerations that gaming operators, players, and other stakeholders need to make in order to create a culture of safe and responsible gaming.

For the country’s online gaming industry, the Indian government recently released new regulations. The decision was made in response to growing concerns about the harm that internet gaming does to children and the need to regulate the sector to promote responsible gaming. The updated regulations, which were notified on April 20, 2023, mandate that online gaming providers publish the chances of winning and losing in each game. This is done to encourage honesty and fair play in the gaming sector. The adoption of these new guidelines is anticipated to have a big influence on India’s online gaming market.

Since youth form the largest chunk of consumers of gaming, it is advisable that youth be involved in the process of making gaming in India safe and responsible. “Youth for Responsible Gaming”, a part of Policy Matrix, thus envisions itself as an organisation that can work with all stakeholders to spread awareness about not just the need for regulating gaming wherever necessary, but also to involve youth in the decision making process.

In the past, Youth for Responsible Gaming (YRG) has organised webinars, outreach campaigns to stakeholders, advocacy campaigns, and published reports and articles spreading awareness about this pertinent issue.

YRG has a strong presence in various educational institutions in Delhi-NCR, like the University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indraprastha University, Ashoka University, O.P. Jindal Global etc. YRG right now also involves volunteers from other central universities spread across India and is working as a coalition of not just students but also young professionals and activists. YRG, under the aegis of Policy Matrix, hopes to play a constructive role in promoting responsible gaming for the youth of India.

 

YRG Contacts:

  • Akash Kumar Singh, Director, Ph.D. Scholar Jawaharlal Nehru University, Email: akashsinghdd@gmail.com
  • Akshara Bharat, Lead-Geopolitics & Secretary-YRG, Vedica Scholars Programme for Women-Ashoka University, Email: akshara.bharat.2023@vedicascholars.com
  • Siddhartha Ghosh, Joint Secretary & Member YRG, Ph.D. Scholar Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Email: author.fastmail@slmail.me