Featured image: Microsoft Copilot
Although a debated subject, esports receiving support from local governments is an initiative that can bring a lot of benefits when undertaken. One of the key ways to pursue this is through the application of funds or grants, alongside a number of options to work with.
Ways to Seek Local Government Support For Esports
- Seeking licenses and visas: Once esports is recognized by the government as a professional industry the next step is to seek the issuance of licenses so that players can be able to get pro esports visas to step out of the country and do business. Countries such as Germany, USA and the Philippines are among those who issue licenses and visas for players to be granted the opportunity to participate in tournaments all over the world.
- Infrastructure: Esports as a growing industry is dominating cyberspace with communities connecting with each other via streaming platforms. In the instance of expansions and a space to accommodate players and spectators, arenas can go a long way to cover aspects of tournaments. Reaching out to local governments can open doors to accessing budgets for space to host tournaments, train and show off a city’s or state’s hospitality. China, South Korea and the US are some of the countries that have centers and facilities to accommodate teams to cover their tournament, broadcasting, production and funding for facility upgrades.
- Applying for assistance: Municipalities or local governments may have funds or grants available that are dedicated to supporting local activities including your esports program. There are State Education Funds in the USA for example, that are allocated by state governments to support educational initiatives, including esports. They are divided into different tiers based on specific criteria or needs namely Title I, II, III and IV.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Copilot
Why The Need For Local Government Support in Esports
With the continued growth that esports is experiencing, local governments are relevant as an element of the future of esports. They help bring in recognition in the esports space as a professional industry — from the esports organizations to the esports players as professional athletes, and the events they put together likened to what traditional sports do. The circumstances help clarify legal issues with business licenses and work visas to help organizers and esports players to participate in tournaments and win prize money.
The recognition helps to improve esports public standing to have its acceptability as a hobby or career and bring reassurances to stakeholders and investors. Esports receive a better public perception when local governments offer their support.
Impact of Government Support in Esports
The significance of esports as an industry is something that local governments will not be able to leave unaddressed, as well as their extent to how far help will be offered. Government regulations have helped to develop the esports landscape by bringing in noteworthy collegiate esports programming and infrastructure building. An example is with Ohio State, offering their esports arena and planning curriculum to follow, and for educational institutions that have not been involved in esports the network exists to tap into and bring development.
There is also the aspect of esports betting, where the legality is still an open conversation in countries around the world. The UK, Malta, Denmark, Italy and Spain are the European countries that have their governments with a definitive language on gambling and appropriate regulations to support it.
Government involvement can come with a potential downside, where the pernickety business of politics can limit the space of esports being borderless. Nonetheless esports will continue to grow with or without the involvement of the local government. The assistance of the government will be about the direction and influence on how the growth will happen. Their involvement will determine how well they will be able to control the direction if they should get in soon.
Esports has helped create jobs for lots of people. Interested in knowing about the business side of esports? Listen to the Gamers Change Lives Podcast! We get experienced guests from all around the world featuring.
Written by Jeffrey Osei-Agyeman
