Rabat – As Morocco’s gaming industry accelerates, professional players like Hassan Rait, who represents USYM E-SPORT in the EA Sports FC circuit, are witnessing the transformation firsthand.
What was once a relatively small local scene is rapidly evolving into a regional hub for video game development and competitive esports, creating new opportunities for both players and creators.
Driving this shift is the Digital Morocco 2030 strategy, a national roadmap aimed at modernizing the country’s digital economy and securing a stronger position in the global gaming industry.
Backed by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, the initiative prioritizes infrastructure development and talent cultivation, with the goal of training 10,000 gaming professionals by 2030.
The momentum is already visible. Since 2022, Morocco’s gaming startup ecosystem has grown from only a handful of companies to more than 100 active studios and businesses by mid-2026.
Government-backed initiatives, including the Innovation Support Fund and specialized incubators, are helping developers turn ideas into commercially viable projects, while ambitious developments such as Rabat Gaming City aim to bring together game studios, investors, and esports professionals under one roof.
When asked about his career, Rait noted that he began his professional journey in 2017 and emphasized that professional success requires extreme dedication.
While his family initially viewed gaming with skepticism, they now recognize it as a legitimate career path following his tournament successes.
In an exclusive interview with i Morocco World News, he stated, “My friends and family always believed that I could win, but they never saw it as a real career. Thanks to this tournament and other tournaments I won, they see it as a career.”.
Rait identifies the start of any tournament as the most pressured moment, yet he finds that securing an initial win helps stabilize his performance throughout the event.
He further credits the Morocco Gaming Expo (MGE) for providing the necessary infrastructure to facilitate his training and overall professional development.
Looking at the broader industry, Rait observes that the rapid increase in competition and the rising caliber of players are accelerating the growth of the esports landscape.
He advocates for an improved approach to sponsorship, noting that increased support at both the developmental and professional levels is essential for the long-term sustainability of the industry.
When asked for advice for young gamers who aim to pursue a career in gaming rather than focus on academics, Rait urges them to continue their academic work, combining hard work and academic focus, suggesting that students should balance their training with their studies while trusting the overall process.
The Morocco Gaming Expo (MGE) continues to serve as a critical nexus for these developments, hosting high-level tournaments and forums that bridge the gap between amateur aspirations and international professional standards.
As Morocco continues to refine its “Digital Morocco 2030” strategy, the synergy among institutional policy, private-sector investment, and individual athletes’ dedication remains fundamental to securing the nation’s position as a leader in the global gaming market.
