Asia
Ocean Sharma Becomes the First Esports Caster to Join World’s Biggest Cricketing League – IPL 2024
Ocean Sharma, a prominent caster of the country’s Esports industry, has been appointed as the national presenter for the highly anticipated season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by Star Sports. This groundbreaking move marks a historic moment in Esports and sports broadcasting, as Ocean becomes the first Indian Esports caster to join the world’s premier franchise cricket league.
Ocean is widely recognised within India’s Esports landscape for his extensive experience and expertise as a caster and game analyst. His notable achievements include casting for official Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) tournaments and global Esports events such as the PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2021: League – East, PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2021: Grand Finals, and PUBG Mobile Pro League – South Asia Spring 2022.
For IPL 2024, Ocean will join hands with the league’s national presenters Mayanti Langer Binny, Jatin Sapru, Tanay Tiwari, Suren Sundaram and more to undertake various responsibilities as an anchor and reporter.
Ocean Sharma said: “As a passionate cricket fan, being appointed as the national presenter for IPL 2024 is truly a monumental moment for me. It presents an incredible opportunity to bridge the gap between Esports and mainstream sports in India, and I am honored to be at its forefront. With my experience, I am committed to delivering an unparalleled experience for all viewers and cannot wait to kickstart this innings of my career.”
Having enjoyed an illustrious career in Esports, this will not be Ocean’s first stint in the country’s sporting landscape as he has previously showcased his casting talent in high-profile tournaments such as Ultimate Kho Kho and Pro Kabaddi League.
“We are thrilled to see Ocean making strides in India’s sports industry after establishing himself as a notable figure in Esports. His journey is an inspiration for aspiring Esports enthusiasts, showcasing that the sector offers lucrative growth prospects in roles other than being a gamer as well. We are confident that his distinctive presenting skillset will enhance the excitement of IPL viewing for fans nationwide,” said Ketan Singhal, Ocean’s business manager and Founder of Phiesi.
Ocean’s unique content has established him as a distinguished figure in the Indian video gaming community with his Youtube channel comprising more than 858k subscribers and Instagram handle exceeding 450k followers. His inclusion in the IPL star cast is not only an individual achievement but also signifies a significant step forward in recognising the growing influence of Esports in mainstream sports.
Asia
Skyesports and GodLike signs MoU with Maharashtra Cyber to promote esports and cyber hygiene in Maharashtra
India’s esports ecosystem is taking another step forward as Skyesports and GodLike Esports sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Maharashtra Cyber, the Government of Maharashtra’s nodal cybersecurity body. The partnership aims to grow the state’s esports ecosystem while promoting cyber hygiene and responsible digital behaviour among gamers.
The agreement was signed during a closed-door meeting in Mumbai and reflects a broader push by the state to develop its digital and creative industries. As India’s leading state economy, Maharashtra is positioning itself as a hub for esports and gaming, aligning with its wider “orange economy” strategy.
Under the MoU, the three parties will collaborate on esports tournaments, leagues, and community initiatives, while embedding cyber safety messaging into all activities. This includes raising awareness around cyberbullying, fraud prevention, data privacy, and responsible online conduct—key concerns as esports audiences continue to grow, particularly among younger users.
Skyesports will lead tournament organisation and community engagement, while GodLike Esports will support through mentorship programmes, professional player involvement, and grassroots initiatives. Maharashtra Cyber will focus on amplifying cyber awareness and promoting safe digital practices across the ecosystem. Eyrie Entertainment will support outreach efforts and help scale campaign visibility across the state.
Commenting on the initiative, Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO of Skyesports, said:
“The growth of esports requires strong collaboration between the industry and government stakeholders. This MoU with Maharashtra Cyber represents an important step toward strengthening Maharashtra’s esports ecosystem through responsible gaming initiatives and grassroots engagement. As India prepares to compete at global events such as the Esports World Cup (EWC), Esports Nations Cup (ENC), and the Asian Games 2026, partnerships like this will play a key role in building a stronger pipeline of talent and opportunities for young gamers. With GodLike Esports also joining the initiative, we aim to combine competitive expertise and creator reach to drive deeper community engagement. The MOU is a first-step towards solidifying Maharashtra as an esports hub globally.”
Yashasvi Yadav, Additional Director General of Police at Maharashtra Cyber, added:
“As esports continues to grow rapidly among young audiences, it is equally important to promote safe and responsible digital practices within the gaming ecosystem. Through this collaboration with Skyesports and GodLike Esports, we aim to raise awareness around cyber hygiene, online safety, and responsible behaviour in gaming communities. Initiatives like these will help ensure that the growth of esports in Maharashtra is supported by strong awareness of cybersecurity, digital discipline, and safe online participation.”
Chetan “Kronten” Chandgude, Founder of GodLike Esports, said:
“At GodLike Esports, we have always believed that the true growth of esports in India lies in strengthening its roots at the grassroots level. Through this collaboration with Maharashtra Cyber and Skyesports, we aim to support the state’s vision of building a strong and sustainable esports ecosystem. Our focus will be on engaging young gamers through mentorship, community initiatives, and professional player interactions, while also promoting cyber hygiene and responsible gaming practices. This MoU also marks the first step toward our vision of putting the state on the global esports map, and we look forward to sharing some exciting announcements around this soon.”
The initiative also aligns with global recommendations from organisations such as the International Telecommunication Union, which highlight the importance of cybersecurity awareness as digital participation expands.
For more on esports growth and regulation, see Europa Gaming’s coverage on India Esports Market Growth and Esports Regulation Trends.
As esports continues to scale in India, partnerships like this underline a key industry shift: growth is no longer just about tournaments and audiences, but also about building a safer, more responsible digital environment for the next generation of players.
The post Skyesports and GodLike signs MoU with Maharashtra Cyber to promote esports and cyber hygiene in Maharashtra appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
Spotlight Sports Group Expands its Smart View Global Footprint to Hong Kong
Spotlight Sports Group has launched Smart View for Hong Kong racing, extending the Smart View Engine’s global footprint into one of the sport’s most high-value and internationally recognised betting markets. The product gives operators a proven, scalable tool for engaging Hong Kong racing audiences with data-driven insight. Smart View evaluates hundreds of variables for every runner across seven key performance attributes: Ability, Trainer, Jockey, Course suitability, Distance suitability, Ground effectiveness and Draw bias, distilling that analysis into one clear, definitive rating for every runner.
Happy Valley and Sha Tin are among the sport’s most iconic venues, yet for many punters outside the territory the runner cohort, made up largely of horses bred and raced overseas, can feel unfamiliar. Smart View draws on 40 years of proprietary Racing Post data to remove that barrier, giving punters the context and confidence to engage with one of the sport’s great markets without having to be an expert in it.
The launch adds Hong Kong to an international portfolio that now spans the UK and Ireland, France, USA, UAE, South Africa and Australia.
Sam Houlding, Managing Director of B2B at Spotlight Sports Group, said: “The Racing Innovation Blueprint we unveiled in January set out an ambitious year of product development for Spotlight Sports Group. Smart View for Hong Kong is the latest delivery against that commitment. Hong Kong is one of the world’s premier racing territories, renowned for the quality of its racing and the scale of its betting market. As a data led product Smart View was built to work anywhere in the world and adding Hong Kong is an important milestone as we continue to deliver world-class racing products to our partners around the globe.”
The post Spotlight Sports Group Expands its Smart View Global Footprint to Hong Kong appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
FeedConstruct and East Asia Super League Sign Multi-Year Exclusive Data and Streaming Agreement
FeedConstruct has secured the exclusive worldwide data and streaming betting rights to the East Asia Super League (EASL) under a landmark multi-year agreement. The deal takes immediate effect, covering the remaining final stages of the 2025/2026 season as well as full future campaigns.
EASL, widely regarded as the Champions League of professional men’s basketball in East Asia, features top-performing teams from leading leagues across Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, and Macau S.A.R.
Through this partnership, FeedConstruct’s global network of partners will gain access to premium, exclusive coverage of EASL action. The agreement spans all international territories excluding Hong Kong, with coverage beginning right away as the 2025/2026 Quarterfinals tip off on March 18.
Narek Harutyunyan, CEO at FeedConstruct, commented: “Signing a multi-year agreement with EASL is an important step for FeedConstruct. East Asia is a fast-growing region for sports, with strong fan engagement and increasing demand for quality content. Through this partnership, we aim to provide our partners with reliable access to EASL competitions across our global network.”
EASL Chief Executive Officer Henry Kerins added: “We are thrilled to join forces with FeedConstruct in this landmark partnership. This collaboration reflects our deep commitment to ensuring that EASL’s data reaches the world responsibly, accurately, and with the integrity our league demands. The demand for official, high-quality sports data continues to grow at an extraordinary pace, and we believe that aligning with a partner of FeedConstruct’s caliber and global reputation accelerates our mission to elevate EASL’s profile on a truly global scale. While we recognize the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the betting industry, we are committed to approaching this space thoughtfully and in full alignment with the standards and values of our league and its stakeholders. This is a partnership we are genuinely proud of.”
The agreement creates a direct bridge between East Asian basketball and the global iGaming ecosystem, enabling operators to tap into a highly engaged audience that has historically exceeded 100 million viewers.
This strategic move further strengthens FeedConstruct’s position as a leading provider of sports data, streaming, and technology solutions, reinforcing its role in connecting the worlds of sport and iGaming on a global scale.
The post FeedConstruct and East Asia Super League Sign Multi-Year Exclusive Data and Streaming Agreement appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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