“Today, the position of the Ministry of sport is that eSports is very, very far from being a sport,” reports Rémy “Llewellys” Chanson, director of eSports at Webedia (Millenium, jeux-video.com, IGN fr) in a video he published on Millenium’s dailymotion channel after his meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Sport last wednesday.

A few weeks ago, Axelle Lemaire, Secretary of State, confirmed that the article 38, aiming to dissociate eSports and gambling in the French law will happen. She also appeared very enthusiastic about eSports being a sport. With this new support, Matthieu Dallon, CEO of Oxent (ESWC) and Chanson were received by the French Ministry of Sport to discuss the subject. While the Ministry of Sport saluted the growth of eSports as an industry, they answered with a categorical no to the idea of bringing eSports and sports closer.

The lack of physical activity is still an issue for the ministry. “If the Ministry of Sport were to accept eSports as a sport, it would have to promote eSports,” explains Chanson, “It very hardly imagines advertising eSports or encouraging children to play video games.” And the opposition of the Ministry of Sport doesn’t stop there: “They made it clear that the term ‘eSports’ was a problem and they would like us to have another name.” continues Chanson in the video.

Still, the Ministry of Sport has realized that eSports shares similarities with sports, but only in how eSports professionals are facing legal issues with the Labor Code, just like sports professionals used to. The Ministry explained that it could help eSports copying sport contracts, but in no way be integrated in sports. Chanson then reported that “the Ministry of Sport hinted that mentalities won’t change for many years. The Ministry thinks that if we wanted to move forward, eSports would need another name and be part of the Ministry of Culture or even the Ministry of Numeric Economy, but far from sports.

So eSports won’t be in the French law ?

“We were strongly advised by the Ministry of Sport to talk with the Ministry of Culture,” explains Chanson, “but the Ministry of Culture is more concerned about Le Louvre than video games…” Chanson and Dallon are being ran around from one Ministry to the other, in what looks more and more like one of The Twelve Tasks of Asterix: “find the permit A 38 in “The Place That Sends You Mad.” No wonder why the first and only mention of eSports in a French law is meant to be under the Article 38.

The Ministry of Sport refusing to consider eSports as a sport is a serious setback. But meeting with officials of the Ministry of Sports is in itself a step forward for Chanson. The fact that eSports is to be mentioned in a future law brings attention. The French government is trying to figure out what eSports really is. “We have made a lot of progress in the past few years. We used to end up in front of closed doors, now they are half open,” says Chanson.

As we explained in our article about the Article 38, it is now time for the government to define what eSports is. Article 38 is not yet in front of the Legislative Assembly and still subject to many changes. “The numeric law is being discussed in the Council of Ministers. Each Minister gives his opinion. There are many question marks and, as experts, we are asked about our point of view.”

According to Chanson, the main issue being discussed is how to differentiate an eSport and a gambling game disguised as an eSport. “One of the concerning parts is about the money involved. That is why it was important to have legislation assessing eSports as being different with gambling.”

There are still many issues to be brought to the French legislators. The road to the first mention of eSports in the French laws is still unclear. But one thing is certain—for now, the French Ministry of Sport doesn’t want to have anything to do with eSports.