Working group refines eSports framework

While Iceland has already included eSports and eGaming in the sports associations and the Icelandic Esports Association, founded in 2018, has set itself the goal of being one of the top five eSports countries in the world by 2025, there is still some catching up to do in Austria. This is now to be done in a working group set up by the Green Federal Ministry for Art, Culture, Public Service and Sport.

“Creating clear framework conditions that allow the eSports scene to develop” is the target definition of State Secretary for Youth Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP), whose section, together with the Federal Office for the Positive Rating of Computer and Console Games (BuPP), has been part of the working group from the beginning is. This was divided into seven subgroups including the supergroup Sport & eSport. Questions about the protection of minors need to be clarified here; event law and employment law; non-profit and tax issues; Health, Integrity and Prevention. Gender issues and women are also areas, as is the problem trio of “betting, gambling and loot boxes”. Round table planned with experts “According to Plakolm, the development of a future Austrian eSports scene should not be shaped by old patterns of thinking”. As far as working hours and the work rest law for future gamers are concerned, talks are being held with the Federal Ministry for Digitization and Economic Locations in order to clarify this. The future role of the federal agency BuPP also needs to be defined, and we are currently in the process of doing so. “In any case, the BuPP has a wealth of experience, since it has been supporting parents and educators with orientation aids for games since 2005,” said the youth state secretariat. A round table on the subject of eSports is also being planned for next week, to which experts from various positions will be invited, such as the eSports Association, Heeres-eSportler, A1 eSports League, saferinternet and others. For example, there are questions such as whether there should be a distinction between eSports and eGaming in Austria – i.e. games without a connection to sports – as in Germany, for example. The Austrian esport association ESVÖ does not seem to see a difference here as long as the performance can be achieved through training and skill.

Reference-www.krone.at