Gaming has universal recreational appeal for people across all ages and socioeconomic groups. The Indian gaming industry has witnessed a paradigm shift with the rapid growth in digital infrastructure, increasing smartphone affordability and penetration, expanding internet user base, declining data price and evolution of digital and online gaming models leading to a surge in the number of online gaming players over the last couple of years.

Contrary to the traditional belief, that gaming is merely an addictive source of entertainment and diversion, recent research has proved that gaming has numerous learning and development benefits. All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), the apex Industry body for Policy Advocacy for online Gaming in India has released a report ‘Online Games: A tool for learning & development’ at a launch event in Delhi. The report highlights experts’ opinions by leading educationists, pro – gamers, mental health experts, psychologists, and gaming developers who aim to create positive awareness about digital sports gaming.

Launching the report Rajya Sabha – MP & Olympic Medallist, Ms. Mary Kom said, “While the conventional thinking is to categorise all forms of digital gaming as harmful, careful research and analysis indicates that there are many positives that accrue from Digital Sports Gaming. In today’s time, with the growing digital infrastructure, eSports can reach out to an innumerable set of people in different cities who do not have a proper sporting infrastructure and provide them with a platform to showcase their skills.”

She further added, “It is needless to mention that all gamers need to be cautioned against the overuse of online games at the expense of other physical activities.”

Based on the overall theme of the report, the launch was followed by a panel discussion wherein experts like Ms. Fatima Agarkar (Leading Educationist & Founder – KA Edu Associates), Ms. Ishita Pateria (Counselling Psychologist & Founder – State of Mind), Mr. Lokmanyu Chaturvedi (Pro Gamer),  and Mr. Dibyojyoti Mainak (General Counsel, MPL) gave insights on advantages of digital sport games, gaming methodologies used in teaching,  enhancement of life skills, mental aptitude, lowers stress, better hand – eye coordination, critical thinking and  psychosocial skills through gaming etc.

Expressing his views, All India Gaming Federation, CEO, Mr. Roland Landers said, “The proliferation of digital infrastructure, high-speed internet and growing technology have led to a tremendous growth in the online gaming industry. There are an estimated 300 million mobile gamers in India. The number of digital gaming companies has also seen a rapid rise. In digital sports gaming players like Mobile Premier League (MPL) and First Games from the PayTM stable taking the lead in driving growth in this sector”