Last May the world of Esports and gaming in Italy he lived for two days. On 8 and 9 May 2023 the first parliamentary convention dedicated to this sector, which has allowed its protagonists to deal directly with the institutions. The aim was to highlight the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly growing but still poorly regulated market.
The convention, organized by theItalian Esports Observatory (OIES) and from 5 Star Movementwith the support of the Honorable Valentina Barzotti, Chiara Appendino, Antonio Caso and Alessandra Todde, started the drafting of the first White Paper of Esports and Gaming in Italy.
It is an open source document, which will collect the contributions of professionals, companies and operators in the sector. To ensure maximum participation and transparency, the Observatory has launched a call open to all to send proposals and suggestions for the Paper. Thanks to this initiative, the testimonies of over 50 operators were collectedwho were able to express their needs and problems in the Italian gaming sector.
The White Paper on ESports in Italy will arrive in Parliament in the autumn
The objective of the White Paper is to provide a knowledge base of the challenges and potential of the gaming sector, starting from the voices of its main players. The document will present a series of critical issues and possible solutionswhich can be used by political forces for initiate targeted legislative processes. The White Paper will be presented in the autumn, in an event in the Chamber of Deputies, where the Observatory will deliver the final document to the representatives of the parties present in Parliament and of the institutions.
The White Paper will address various issues that today represent obstacles to the development of the gaming sector in Italy, both economically and culturally. Among them will be the industry regulationil sports recognition and new professions related to Esports, women’s inclusivenessl’breaking down stereotypes and the support for independent developers of video games. These are crucial issues for enhancing the gaming sector as a strategic resource for the country, capable of generating innovation, employment and culture.
Below are the statements of Louis Caputofounder of the Italian Esports Observatory.
“The White Paper will be a historic milestone for the entire video game sector in Italy. We will undermine the preconceptions that still today prevent this world from emerging, instead making the opportunities in economic terms and the cultural aspects stand out. In addition, we will enhance the base of the Italian gaming community, allowing everyone to be able to actively contribute to solving the problems that afflict this sector. We are very proud of this work and can’t wait to finally be able to make it public. We thank the exponents of the 5 Star Movement who are accompanying us on this journey and who will allow us to dialogue with all the political forces present in Parliament. In fact, this will be the real change in approach that the whole sector has been waiting for for some time to solve the problems of Esports and gaming in Italy”.