In the world of video gaming, violence, and guns are no longer the only options. Women are also taking to gaming as a form of relaxation, a means of social connection, and even as a profession because it attracts people of all ages and genders. Women account for as many as 43% of smartphone gamers in India. Meet some serious gamers to find out what keeps them hooked. Did you know that women make up 18 percent of gamers in India? Women make up 43% of smartphone gamers across all age groups when you narrow it down to smartphone gamers. The figures, which were brought to light by the 2021 “Think with Google APAC—Play like a Girl” report, also showed that the number of female gamers in India is growing at a faster rate than the number of male gamers.

These women are part of a growing group of gamers who not only play for fun but also compete on a professional level or get involved in the industry, some of whom even become successful content creators. They are making it more and more clear that gaming is no longer just for men.

“Women now have access to the digital space in a way that may not have been possible in other social settings thanks to affordable Internet and smartphones. In a previous report, Roland Landers, CEO of All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), the apex industry body for online skill gaming in India, told FE that this is a major reason why women are participating in online games, along with other economic and social opportunities.

About 30% of the registered users of fantasy sports platforms in India are women, according to a Deloitte report.

We profile a few women who are redefining gaming in India by either participating in major tournaments and paid contests, creating content for social media, earning money, or simply advancing the industry:

Manisha Mehta, Delhi

Manisha Mehta, based in New Delhi, Delhi, was first introduced to online poker by a friend who used to play it frequently. I then began looking into various online games. Poker is by far my favorite game out of all of them. According to the holder of a postgraduate degree in commerce, “I find it engaging.”

So began her journey into online gaming. Mehta’s response, when asked why she chose poker, is: My favorite game is without a doubt poker. I’ve learned a lot about discipline and money management from playing it, in addition to being mentally stimulating. Because of this, I adore it so much.”

Mehta, 29, enjoys playing poker as a means of relaxation and unwinding in addition to his full-time job at a multinational corporation. She regularly participates in paid contests and poker tournaments on the Mobile Premier League (MPL) app, even though she has not yet entered any major tournaments. She has also received cash rewards, but she is reluctant to reveal the amount due to private reasons.

“They have “head-to-head” competitions and a variety of tables with varying entry fees. Additionally, I value the chance to interact with other players from various backgrounds and skill levels. She elaborates, “I find that by participating in these smaller competitions, I can improve my skills, learn new techniques and strategies, and prepare myself for when I take part in a larger tournament in the future.”

Mehta doesn’t have a social media channel, but she follows some of the best poker players and gaming influencers to stay up to date on industry news and strategies. She states, “It’s a great way to learn from the best and stay up to date on the most recent gaming trends and developments.”

Mehta says that “it’s great to see” more women are turning to poker as a full-time career. Sadly, however, there is still a negative perception of card games. She explains, “People tend to believe they are only based on luck and not skill.”

According to Mehta, this can make it difficult for players, particularly female players, to pursue professional sports. It can also be difficult to obtain family support. However, attitudes are shifting, and a growing number of people are becoming aware of the mentally stimulating nature of skill-based poker. I’m confident that even more women will take up the sport if we can raise awareness and educate the public. She says that more women should be encouraged and supported to pursue a career in the industry and that society should recognize the skill and mental stimulation involved in games like poker.

It’s important to keep in mind that poker is just one part of the gaming industry. First-person shooters, sports games, and many other types of games can be found online.

“As long as they are passionate and motivated, I believe women in India can make a career out of any of these genres. The business is always expanding and changing; Mehta continues, “so, there are plenty of opportunities to make a career out of gaming.”

Kanika Bisht, Pune

Kanika Bisht Kanika Bisht is known as “Kani Gaming” on streaming services. Her career as a game streamer began four years ago. She is based in Pune. I was pursuing a career in modeling at the time, and I came across Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and PUBG videos from Dynamo and Mortal on YouTube. I couldn’t resist downloading the games after watching their videos, she claims.

Bisht frequently streams Valorant, a free first-person tactical hero shooter, as well as other games on her channel. She goes on to say, “I think playing other games is a fun way to interact with my audience and makes it more interesting.”

Bisht has previously taken part in a few esports competitions. Social media is essential for me as a streamer to keep in touch with my audience. I stream on Loco, a leading esports and live game streaming platform, as well as YT (YouTube). My Instagram handle is @kanikaluv. Do check out my Loco stream,” she advises.

Bisht asserts that gaming is not an exception to the rule where women have achieved success. We can confidently state that women can make gaming their full-time occupation. It is encouraging to see a dramatic increase in the number of female gamers over time, demonstrating that gaming is no longer dominated by men. She asserts that all that is required is practice, enthusiasm, and dedication to the sport.

However, according to Bisht, women streamers are judged more on their appearance than on their gaming skills. Misogynists abound with the belief that “girls can’t play better than boys” and that esports and video games are typically referred to as sports for men. Women gamers need to put in twice as much effort to establish their identities and convince viewers that they are capable of playing and streaming games, as their abilities have long been questioned.

As a result, the idea of competing with men has been foreign. However, things are beginning to change right now, and Bisht adds, “The day will come soon when men and women will be treated equally in the esports and gaming industry.”

Muskan Sethi, Delhi

Muskan Sethi, 33, of New Delhi, used to play many strategy games and take a lot of sports seriously as a child. However, the Delhi resident has never looked back since her father introduced her to poker.

Poker attracted me right away because it provided me with the challenge and learning opportunity I always seek in a game. Additionally, “I thoroughly enjoy it because it allows me to connect and play with players from around the world,” according to Sethi, “my husband first introduced me to the world of online poker.”

Sethi has always been attracted to strategy and skill-based games from the beginning. Poker has always been her favorite because it has higher difficulty levels than other games. She tells us why: Like chess, poker is a skill-based game. But in chess, everything is on the board, and the player must make his moves accordingly, so it goes even further. However, because the cards in poker are hidden, you must mentally calculate every possible combination and permutation. You’ll have to read your opponent’s thoughts, body language, and other cues simultaneously. To beat the other players, a poker player must therefore quickly decipher all of the information.

Sethi has competed in several national and international tournaments. She was one of the most well-known when she was chosen to compete in a tournament in Barcelona, Spain, as one of 70,000 players from India. Since she began playing poker professionally, she has also participated in the World Series of Poker several times, the most recent time being in July 2022. My claim to fame, in my opinion, came about when word spread that a girl from India plays poker and I blocked the world’s best poker player. As the saying goes, the rest is history. In the past, I have also appeared in the poker-themed television series Shark Cage. She continues, “I am also going to contribute arduously to the creation of a lot of educational content and raise awareness for poker in India.”

Sethi has participated in numerous Indian tournaments, including the National Poker Series. She has a channel on YouTube called “The A-Game with Muskan” where she talks one-on-one with different people and discusses various trends that are now popular in India. Even though keeping up with it has been difficult given my poker and entrepreneurial commitments, she complains.

She posts the most frequently on Instagram. She declares, “I share everything related to my life and the sport of poker there, including my associations, my fitness routine, poker tips, and the list goes on and on.”

Mitsu Chavda, Surat

Surat resident Mitsu Chavda has been playing video games for more than a decade. The 29-year-old lawyer used to play games like Super Mario Bros., Contra, and Adventure Island when she was younger. Since then, she has “evolved” into games like Counter-Strike, Dota, Clash of Clans, Mobile Legends, Fortnite, Garena Free Fire, PUBG Mobile, and Call of Duty on her mobile phone as well as Counter-Strike, Dota, and Clash of Clans on her PC. The resident of Surat makes it a point to play for at least two hours at night every day, a practice she also describes as a “stress-buster.”

Chavda knows the nuances and requirements of the industry because he plays games. As a result, she also decided to become an esports lawyer who works to grow the esports industry in India.

Chavda asserts that there has been an increase in women’s participation in India across all industries, including gaming. In addition, there is the issue of affordability and the fact that almost every family in India’s middle class has a smartphone. Regarding the idea of raising a girl, there is now a mindset that is not oppressive. She says this gives them the freedom to investigate other fields like gaming.

Chavda thinks that games like BGMI and Free Fire, which have a large number of active players and are heavily promoted by their publishers, attract the majority of female players. Additionally, there is a lack of awareness regarding women’s inability to enter other games’ communities. However, I’ve observed a lot of women playing games like Call of Duty and Valorant: Mobile, she continues.

Credit: Financial Express