Asia
Esports set to debut at Asian Games 2022, Indian esports contingent reacted after the postponed of prestigious event

Following detailed discussions with the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) and the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC), the OCA Executive Board (EB) decided to postpone the 19th Asian Games, which were scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China, from 10 to 25 September 2022. The new dates of the 19th Asian Games will be agreed between the OCA, the COC and the HAGOC and announced in the near future. However, the above decision was taken by all the stakeholders after carefully considering the pandemic situation and the size of the Games.
The Olympic Council of Asia has earlier announced the titles for the debut of esports as an official medal sport at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in September 2022. There will be eight medal events, plus two demonstration games, reflecting the popularity and growth of electronic sports in Asia.
Recently, following eight days of high-voltage competition and nail-biting action in the ESFI’s National Esports Championship 2022 (NESC ’22), the winners have been selected to represent the country at the prestigious continental tournament.
1. FIFA22 – Charanjot Singh and Karman Singh Tikka
2. Street Fighter V – Mayank Prajapati and Ayan Biswas
3. Hearthstone – Shikhar Choudhary and Karthik Varma
4. League of Legends – Captain Akshaj Shenoy, Samarth Arvind Trivedi, Mihir Ranjan, Aditya Selvaraj, Aakash Shandilya and Sanindhya Malik
5. DOTA 2 – Captain Moin Ejaz, Krish, Abhishek, Ketan, Darshan and Shubham
After hearing the Asian Games postponement news, Mr Lokesh Suji, Director, Esports Federation of India & Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF) said “The well-being of the athletes is the top priority and this news is expected as there was news floating about the covid resurgence in China. While the wait gets longer but the excitement remains the same. We should look at this as a blessing in disguise, giving our Indian esports contingent more time to sharpen their skills to further our chances of podium finishes.
Can’t wait to watch Indian Esports athletes in action on the Asian stage”
As esports is going to make its debut at the Asian Games 2022, earlier in 2018 it was there as a demonstration title. Indian Esports contingent for the Asian Games 2022 came to surprise after hearing this news and put their thoughts:
FIFA22 athlete Charanjot Singh:
All of us athletes are gutted by the news of the postponement of the Asian Games, but we’ll continue to give our everything in practice leading up to the tournament. The postponement gives us more time to practice and get better for the Asian games.
FIFA22 athlete Karman Singh Tikka:
As Asian Games is postponed, it’s hard to digest it because it somewhat kills your excitement as an athlete. But at the same time, it gives us more time to prepare for the Asian games. We can use this extended timeline to our advantage by grinding more, making strategies against other Asian FIFA athletes and reading their gameplays to be prepared in a better way.
Street Fighter V athlete Mayank Prajapati:
I can’t say I’m not disappointed by hearing the news, but it was kind of expected given the COVID-19 situation. I’m gonna take it positively because I’m going to get more time to practice. Ever since I started preparing myself for the qualifiers/tournament I’ve made progress better than I did in the last 4 years. So I’m gonna keep practising and hopefully, I’ll be able to finally compete in Asian Games. Whenever it’s going to happen, I’ll be prepared.
Street Fighter V athlete Ayan Biswas:
It feels very bad that the game has been postponed because of the covid outbreak. But nothing we can do as the situation is bad. Human lives are the most important thing and I have to keep patience and practice every day till the game happens. We will use this extended time to upskill our game, make better strategies against other Asian athletes and delve deep to understand their gameplay.
Shikhar Choudhary, Indian Hearthstone contingent member:
It is pretty shocking news. All the players are already training and have scheduled everything around the Asian games 2022. I am already dedicating all of my time to the game. Hope the situation in China will become normal soon, and it would not be postponed to a very distant date.
Karthik Varma, Indian Hearthstone contingent member:
Games are postponed for a genuine reason and I, as an athlete will focus on continuing my practice and my training plan. It really doesn’t affect anything from my side as I am only focusing on my part which is giving my best and keep grinding to bring a medal for India.
Akshaj Shenoy, Team India League of Legends Captain:
Firstly I would like to wish China a speedy recovery and hope the situation doesn’t worsen for them. It deeply saddens me to know that the Asian Games has been postponed but on the bright side, we can use the extra months of practice and come back stronger and give them a mightier battle.
Moin Ejaz, Team India DOTA 2 Captain:
We were very excited and looking forward to playing in this year’s Asian Games to represent India and the face the good teams from other counties but now since the Asian games got postponed we will have to wait till the next dates are fixed. On the brighter side, it will give us more time to practise and bring our A-game into the esports arena with better coordination, communication and strategy within our team.
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Asia
Digital gaming disruption tackled in 1st AsPac Regulators’ Forum

Regulators from across the Asia-Pacific region underscored the need to adapt to digital disruption in the gaming industry during the first-ever Regulators’ Forum held in Manila on Thursday, September 11.
In her keynote address, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) President and COO Wilma Eisma said that while gaming jurisdictions across the region vary in size and maturity, they share common challenges such as cross-border transactions, rapid digitalization, and balancing economic benefits with social responsibility.
“In the Philippines, electronic gaming has become a significant growth driver and PAGCOR has responded with initiatives that ensure accountability, security, and consumer protection while allowing the industry to thrive responsibly,” Ms. Eisma said.
However, she said that digitalization, remote gaming, and emerging platforms are testing the limits of traditional oversight models.
“By exchanging best practices, aligning responsible standards, and keeping pace with innovation, we can ensure that the region’s gaming industry grows not just in size but in trust, resilience, and sustainability,” she said.
Ms. Eisma said PAGCOR has introduced reforms such as stricter advertising rules, stronger financial safeguards, and expanded responsible gaming programs but noted that the greater challenge lies in keeping pace with the rapid evolution of online and remote gaming.
The PAGCOR executive also expressed hope that the Regulators’ Forum will become an annual platform for dialogue, with an expanded edition already being planned for 2026.
“I am confident that this Regulators’ Forum will evolve into a hub for knowledge, collaboration and shared commitment,” she said. “Together, let us set the tone for gaming regulation in Asia: one that is innovative, collaborative and firmly anchored on integrity.”
The event was organized by PAGCOR and Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) and hosted by Newport World Resorts. It gathered regulators, operators, and stakeholders from across the region to tackle concerns on player protection and financial integrity, among others.
The post Digital gaming disruption tackled in 1st AsPac Regulators’ Forum appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Galaxy Entertainment Opens New Overseas Office in Singapore

Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) has opened a new overseas office in Singapore. This strategic initiative marks a new chapter in GEG’s growth trajectory and underscores its commitment to promoting Macau as the “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure” to a broader audience across Southeast Asia.
Singapore, one of Asia’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan countries, has long been a key source market for Macau. The new office, located in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District, will serve as a dedicated hub to enhance connections with the Singaporean business community, as well as showcasing to Singapore and the broader Southeast Asian Region Macau’s dynamic evolving tourism landscape-highlighting its rich cultural heritage, luxury hospitality and increasingly diverse world-class leisure and entertainment experience offering.
The opening of Galaxy’s Lion City office is closely aligned with the Macao SAR Government’s vision to diversify tourism offerings and expand visitor demographics. Through its ramped-up Singapore presence, GEG aims to curate bespoke travel experiences tailored to the preferences of Singaporean and regional travelers, ensuring seamless journeys from planning to arrival.
GEG’s new office will support tourism, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) inquiries, reinforcing its role as a versatile hospitality leader and a trusted partner for business tourism.
In addition, GEG’s Singapore office reflects the Group’s forward-thinking approach to innovation, customer-centricity and regional collaboration. It also signals GEG’s intent to enhance brand visibility and foster meaningful connections with travelers and stakeholders across Asia.
To celebrate the grand opening, GEG hosted an elegant gala dinner at JW Marriott Singapore, welcoming distinguished guests, business partners and media representatives. Mr. Elmen Lee, Director of Integrated Resort Services at GEG, introduced to the guests the Group’s three flagship properties in Macau-Galaxy Macau and Galaxy International Convention Center, Broadway Macau and StarWorld Hotel.
Mr. Lee said: “Singapore has always been an important source market for Macau. The taste and sophistication of Singaporean travelers naturally align with Macau’s experiential tourism offering. We firmly believe that Galaxy Entertainment Group’s diverse offerings will attract more Singaporean visitors to visit us and explore more. In support of the Macao SAR Government’s vision to promote tourism diversification, Galaxy Entertainment Group is continuing to expand its international visitor base to inject more vitality into Macau.”
Galaxy Macau, Broadway Macau and StarWorld Hotel bring together luxurious accommodations, award-winning dining, premium shopping and world-class entertainment facilities; each with its own unique character. With Galaxy Macau home to nine of the world’s leading luxury hospitality brands under one roof, catering to the diverse needs of international travelers; the Galaxy trio collectively showcases the excellence of Macau’s hospitality industry.
The post Galaxy Entertainment Opens New Overseas Office in Singapore appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Kazakhstan Considers Criminal Penalties for Promoting Online Casinos

Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) has identified 34 bloggers promoting online casinos on social media, with 11 already facing administrative penalties. The agency has stated that fines alone are not deterring repeat offenders and is now considering introducing criminal liability for such activities.
A law passed in 2024 strictly prohibits outdoor advertising for bookmakers, online casinos and betting pools, as well as their promotion in media, films and video content. According to the FMA, over the past two and a half years, more than 200 illegal gambling operations have been dismantled, and 224 individuals have been held criminally accountable. However, the agency notes that the primary threat now stems from online casinos based abroad.
Since the beginning of this year, authorities have blocked more than 17,000 links, mostly mirror sites for foreign platforms. Despite these efforts, some Kazakhstani payment service providers continue to facilitate transactions linked to such websites. The FMA has pledged to intensify investigations into these financial intermediaries.
Influencer marketing remains a key channel for online gambling promotion. In the first half of the year alone, 34 influencers were identified as advertising gambling services, with 11 fined. But according to the FMA, revenues from such promotions far exceed the cost of the fines, creating incentives for repeated violations.
In response, the agency is exploring whether bloggers’ actions could be legally interpreted as aiding and abetting illegal gambling, a charge similar to promoting financial pyramid schemes, which already carries criminal penalties under Kazakhstani law. Currently, fines for illegal advertising on social media start at 200,000 KZT (approximately $420).
The post Kazakhstan Considers Criminal Penalties for Promoting Online Casinos appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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