E-SPORTS

A PLATFORM FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN SPORTS – A SOCIO-LEGAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Recently, India passed the first legislation to regulate online gaming and promote e-sports. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, aims at promoting online gaming, including e-sports. With the rapid advancement of technology and the impact of pandemics, “Electronic Sports” (hereinafter “e-sports”) have emerged as a significant component of the gaming and sports industry. E-sports was a full-out medal event in the Asian Games 2022, conducted in Hangzhou, China. “E-Sports presuppose playing video games in a competitive setting, emphasizing increased 'institutionalization' of gaming activity through the organization of e-sports teams and official international competitions.” It is a complex convergence of culture, technology, business, and sports. In India, e-sports is a fast-developing industry. It witnessed a whopping investment of $544 million from August 2020 to January 2021. India also has the E-Sports Federation. The Ministry of Sports & NITI Aayog has also taken some steps toward its regulation. The judiciary and legislature have clearly stated that such gaming activities do not fall within gambling and are a “game of skill,” which is legal. As a virtual platform, e-sports transcends the biological distinctions emphasized in traditional sports. They offer women e-athletes a space that ensures privacy and autonomy. Yet, similar to conventional competitive sports, e-sports remain predominantly male-dominated. Due to the non-regularization of e-sports, females and non-binary players face overt barriers like gender violence, sexual harassment, pornography, etc., as well as subtle barriers like negative comments and men shaming when losing to a girl, etc., in e-sports. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, though an appreciable step towards streamlining the sector, overlooks critical challenges such as online harassment and specific concerns of women players. The paper examines the concept of e-sports and its socio-legal implications, with particular emphasis on women’s participation in e-sports.