Pro Gamers and Esports Players Welfare Association Oppose Tamil Nadu’s Online Gaming Restrictions, Calling It a Threat to Livelihood
Chennai, 12th March 2025 – The Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA), along with a coalition of professional gamers from Tamil Nadu, has filed a legal challenge against the newly implemented Tamil Nadu Regulations on Real Money Gaming, 2025, in the Tamil Nadu High Court. The petition argues that the new regulations violate the fundamental rights of online gamers as guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution, significantly impacting the professional gaming community. It further contends that the Tamil Nadu government lacks the constitutional authority to enact such regulations, as skill-based games fall under the jurisdiction of the central government, as per the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Additionally, the legislation is based on flawed and non-existent data, making it inherently arbitrary.
The “State of India Gaming Report 2022,” jointly produced by Lumikai and Amazon Web Services (AWS), highlights that India’s esports player base surged from 150,000 in 2021 to 600,000 in 2022. The report further forecasts this number to reach 1.5 million by 2027, underscoring the rapid expansion of the Indian gaming ecosystem.
EPWA represents a diverse gaming community in Tamil Nadu, including some of India’s most accomplished esports professionals and poker players. Among them are Vikram Kumar Lungi, winner of the 2017 Asian Poker Tour (APT) Hyperturbo Championship and third-place finisher in the 2017 APT Main Event; PS Rathanvel, a chess prodigy who was on course to become India’s youngest Chess Grandmaster and holds an active global ranking of 737; and Aditya Sushanth Donka, known as ‘Bomber,’ a World Series of Poker (WSOP) Bracelet winner and one of India’s most accomplished poker professionals.
The newly imposed regulations include strict limitations, such as a ban on online gaming between 12:00 AM and 5:00 AM. Players argue that this restriction is completely disconnected from the realities of professional gaming. For many competitive gamers, these are prime playing hours, as they engage with top-tier global competitors and working professionals who participate in esports after their job commitments.
EPWA and professional gamers have contested these restrictions on three primary grounds. Firstly, they argue that the regulations violate their right to livelihood, as professional gaming is a legitimate career for thousands of individuals. The imposed restrictions severely hinder their ability to earn a living. Secondly, the restrictions compromise competitive integrity and global participation, as many international and high-level competitive matches occur late at night. Limiting play during these hours prevents Indian gamers from competing on a global stage. Lastly, the assumption that 12:00 AM – 5:00 AM should be designated as “sleeping hours” disregards the reality of professional gaming schedules and player routines, making the restrictions unjustified.
Reactions from the Gaming Community
Vikram Kumar Lungi, APT Champion, expressed his frustration, stating, “It feels like Tamil Nadu gamers are being unfairly singled out. The rest of the country plays freely, and international tournaments take place at night. Why should we be forced to sit out when others can compete without restrictions? Gaming is my career, and I should not have to sacrifice my livelihood due to outdated policies.”
PS Rathanvel, Chess Prodigy, echoed similar concerns, saying, “Competing at a global level requires strategy, patience, and the opportunity to play against the best minds in the world. Restricting night-time gaming is akin to telling an athlete they cannot train during peak competition hours—it simply does not make sense.”
Aditya Sushanth Donka, WSOP Bracelet Winner, emphasized the impact on working professionals, stating, “Many competitive gamers are working professionals who play serious poker after work hours. If these laws remain, India will be the only country were playing at night is restricted—not due to any real harm, but because someone arbitrarily decided that 12-5 AM should be off-limits. That is not how professional gaming operates.”
EPWA and the broader professional gaming community remain steadfast in their opposition to these restrictive regulations, which they argue threaten India’s growing reputation in the global real money gaming industry. Their legal challenge aims to protect professional gamers and the thousands who rely on online gaming for their livelihood.
For inquiries, please contact: info@epwa.in