Indian esports players increasingly see it as viable career option

Mumbai: Esports are increasingly emerging as a financially viable career option, with some of the country’s top players such as Tanmay Singh (Scout) and Jonathan Amaral earning around Rs 1 crore annually, according to industry executives.

A survey conducted by research firm YouGov found that 83% of daily Indian esports players consider the nascent field a financially viable career, with 49% describing it as very viable. The survey covered more than 1,500 daily esports players in the 18-44 years age group across tier-1 and tier-2 cities.

Three out of four respondents said they had considered pursuing esports professionally, indicating a shift from casual participation to structured career planning.


Esports refer to multiplayer video games played competitively for spectators.

Career opportunities are also expanding beyond competitive play. While 81% of respondents aspired to become professional players or streamers, 56% expressed interest in non-playing roles such as coaches, analysts and team managers, reflecting the gradual professionalisation of the ecosystem.

“The largest creators are earning close to a million dollars annually. At the top end, a single brand deal can be valued at Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. This is not limited to a small group of eight to 15 individuals,” said Rajan Navani, founder and CEO of JetSynthesys, which commissioned the survey.

Navani said the creator cohort is expanding steadily. “There are another 20 to 30 creators in the next tier, with around 50 more emerging. Beyond that is a pipeline of nearly 100 creators currently being built. Over time, this could scale to 500 and eventually to thousands,” he said.

Esports are also gaining broader recognition. About 59% of respondents said esports should be placed on a par with physical and mental sports, while 69% said they were comfortable referring to professional esports players as athletes.

However, the survey highlighted persistent challenges. As many as 87% of respondents cited financial instability and limited long-term career pathways among their top three concerns, underscoring the need for stronger institutional support and predictable income streams.

Regulatory clarity is expected to aid growth. India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 banned real money games such as online rummy, poker and fantasy sports, while promoting and regulating esports. Industry executives believe the move could expand the user base and attract higher investment.

India currently has about 835 million internet users, a median age of 29, nearly 700 million smartphone users and close to 500 million gamers.

According to a joint report by Bitkraft Ventures and Redseer Strategy Consultants, the Indian esports market is projected to grow at a 26% compound annual growth rate to reach $132 million by 2029-30, driven by sponsorship revenue, faster monetisation and increasing institutional support.