China’s betting big on e-sports but its tight grip on youth gaming could thwart its ambitions

China revealing its e-sports athletes who will be representing the country in the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou. - ST

SHENZHEN (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Chinese cities from Shenzhen to Beijing are vying to become e-sports hubs in a billion-dollar industry, despite China’s continuing bids to regulate youngsters’ Internet use to curb online gaming addiction.

Local governments across the country have in recent months unveiled plans to develop the e-sports industry worth US$1.72 billion (S$2.3 billion) globally.