THE Games and Amusement Board in Davao Region (GAB-Davao) gears up in professionalizing esports in the region.

“Esports is a real sport, that esports athletes are real athletes,” lawyer Rich Clarin, GAB chairman, said during the General Assembly of Esports Stakeholders on May 10, 2023, at the Regency Inn.

“Marami pong katangian ang physical sports at ang esports event na comparable, katulad po ng (there are a lot of comparable aspects of physical sports and esports event like) leadership, perseverance, they also need to prepare mentally and physically,” he added.

He said that GAB is now promoting the esports industry as this has contributed a lot to the country’s economy.

“We elevate the status of all the esports athletes, one of it is through giving discounts to our licensed professional players,” he said.

He said GAB has tied up with business establishments to offer discounts and esports players will be able to avail it through presenting their professional identification card.

Aside from this, he said that they have also other programs offered to licensed esports players including developmental training, psychological training, and financial literacy.

GAB said esports enthusiasts who can apply for the professional license are promoters or organizers, team managers, team coaches, marshalls, esports players, and analysts or casters.

However, GAB reminded esports athletes that to qualify for a professional license or to become a professional esports player, they should have joined and won major tournaments or leagues in the country.