Online gamers body seeks safe harbour for professionals from Tamil Nadu ban

India esports athletes body EPWA has urged the Tamil Nadu government to recognise skill games as a distinct sport and not club it along with gambling and provide safe harbour for professional players, a senior official of the entity said on Friday.

“We have sent representation to the state government on August 13. We have requested the Tamil Nadu government to recognise skill games as a distinct sport and not club it along with gambling and provide safe harbour for professional players,” Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA) Director Shivani Jha told PTI.

The Madras High Court had in August last year struck down a recent amendment made to the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act, passed in 1930, which imposed a ban on online gaming of rummy and poker with stakes.