China Officially Recognizes Esports As A Profession

In a statement released late in January, the Chinese government, through the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (CMHRSS), announced that fifteen new professions would be added to the official list of occupations, including esports professional and esports operator.

The terminology for esports professional is defined as someone who competes in esports tournaments, performs at esports events, or trains with other professional players, according to the CMHRSS. Esports operator on the other hand, is defined as someone who is involved in the planning of events, maintaining online and offline media channels, and producing content based on esports events.

The news comes as the region enjoys yet another boost in the esports arena, with teams such as Invictus Gaming claiming victory at the 2018 League of Legends World Championships. This new shift from the Chinese government follows a similar path that the US government enacted a few years ago, when esports professionals became eligible for visa assistance, similar to that of professional athletes. With China already putting quite a lot of resources behind their esports growth, this new assistance from the government will likely help Chinese players continue to develop their skills. Chinese players will enjoy extended working rights and freedom of movement, along with easier access to working visas under this new plan.