A witty response from a passionate gamer has gone viral after the Revenue Secretary made remarks against gaming, calling it against social values and imposing a 28% tax on it. The gamer wrote an open letter questioning the characterization of gamers as “addicts” and gaming as “betting.”
“Please do not insult us by calling us criminals” — Gamer’s witty response to the Revenue Secretary goes viral. Here’s why.
The gamer argued that gaming should not be allowed at all if it truly goes against social values. The letter also clarified the distinction between games of skill and games of chance, stating that gamers play games of skill like chess and poker, not betting.
The response ignited discussions on social media, with many netizens expressing their opinions on whether gaming should be taxed so heavily. Gamers emphasized that skill-based games should be recognized as a legitimate profession, similar to traditional sports.
The letter also highlighted the economic significance of the gaming industry, pointing out that gaming globally is a $250 billion economic activity. The gamers of India believe that they are hardworking and law-abiding citizens who contribute to the digital economy, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of achieving a $5 trillion economy.
The controversy arises during a period of rapid growth in India’s gaming industry, with the number of gamers exceeding half a billion in FY22, making India the largest consumer of mobile games globally with 15 billion downloads in the same year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously emphasized the important role of gaming in India’s digital economy and its potential contribution to the country’s economic growth.
