India, Aug. 23 -- Casual games are booming while esports regulation is reshaping the industry.

Gaming in India is hot. On one side, casual multiplayer games like BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, and Bullet Echo are getting tons of downloads, and students and young professionals can play and disconnect for a bit. On the other side, lawmakers (some call them anarchists) are upending the industry with government rules of engagement to govern the future of esports like Free Fire Max and BGMI itself.

Cheap smartphones and cheaper data plans have made India one of the fastest-growing mobile gaming countries in the world. Games like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile have created serious communities, while lighter titles like Bullet Echo are for those who...