Asia
The All India Gaming Federation reinforces its resolve towards responsible gaming
- AIGF strengthens its advisory panel with the induction of three new experts including Justice Vikramajit Sen, Fatema Agarkar & Jhulan Goswami
- The gaming industry fueled by technology is the biggest past-time globally and India is the next frontier
- As millions of players get on gaming platforms, AIGF emphasizes on Player Protection & Responsible Gaming
The COVID-19 outbreak and the nationwide lockdown have had a pronounced impact across industries. Besides stalling economic activity and lowering consumption, the pandemic has also led to behavioral and lifestyle changes in people.
The time as well as the average spends per user (ARPUs) for online gaming is rising significantly making gaming the biggest past-time globally as quoted by top economist Ruchir Sharma from Morgan Stanley, in January this year. The online transaction based skill gaming industry in India grew at a robust rate of 30% while the ARPUs went up by a whopping 41% in 2019, as per the FICCI Frames 2020 report compiled by Ernst & Young. In view of these trends the importance for self-regulation for this Industry cannot be emphasized enough.
Mr. Roland Landers, CEO, All India Gaming Federation states, “Since its inception over four years ago, the objective of AIGF was centered around bringing recognition to the sunrise sector of transaction based online skill gaming. One of the key deliverables for us was to set up a robust self-regulation mechanism that would serve the needs of the Industry by means of good governance”.
Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Landers mentions, “AIGF skill games charter was released in 2018 and was based on the four foundations of integrity, legality, global best practices and good governance. The charter focusses entirely on player protection, responsible gaming including guidelines for advertising.” Through the adoption of principles and the disciplinary process, the AIGF seeks to build a self-regulatory community and facilitative ecosystem for the offer of online transactional games of skill in a transparent and fair manner, with due regard for consumer and stakeholder interests.
With the surge in the transactional based online skill ecosystem and the addition of newer business verticals like digital eSports, the AIGF felt the need to strengthen its Advisory Board and has onboarded eminent experts from diverse backgrounds of the judiciary, education and sports.
On welcoming the new advisory Board members, Mr. Landers professes, “We are privileged to have strengthened our advisory panel at AIGF and are very honored to have eminent Justice Vikramajit Sen, a Former Judge of the Supreme Court & Ex – Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, Ms. Fatema Agarkar, leading educationist & Founder of the Agarkar Centre of Excellence (ACE) combing sports and education, and Ms. Jhulan Goswami, Indian International Cricketer and the former captain of the Indian National women’s cricket team join us and offer their expert guidance to us and the industry.”
Justice Vikramajit Sen states, “As online transaction based gaming has grown by 30% over last year, self-regulation for this ever expanding Industry is extremely important. To overcome the blurred lines, the AIGF Skill Games Charter provides the very foundation for responsible gaming, user integrity, player protection, and best practices for member operators to ensure ethical practices to safeguard the consumer interest.
To further contribute to the process, I am excited to be on the advisory panel of the AIGF, which has vetted the charter and play a role in guiding the Industry body and its stakeholders forward as the sector grows.”
Elaborating on the importance of Digital sports gaming, Ms. Fatema Agarkar states “I am glad to be a part of AIGF’s advisory panel and for me, the sheer potential that e-sports enjoys lies in its reach, bringing communities together, enabling an alternative to physical sports, working with key life skills such as decision making, critical thinking and logic not to mention attitudes of discipline, responsible digital citizenship!”
“There’s cognitive development and participation avenues that open up given its tech base and therefore obvious reach beyond the four walls, and when structured with science and responsible protocols, the sheer scale of possibilities it opens up cannot be emphasized enough. With AIGF’s well-structured Responsible Gaming Charter, we will put the right checks in place and treat it with the respect it deserves!” Ms. Agarkar further added.
Elated to be part of AIGF’s advisory board, Ms. Jhulan Goswami said, “It is heartening to see that millions of gamers are participating in online formats including cricket and that this ecosystem is growing rapidly. It is an honor to be on the board alongside such eminent people
And makes me extremely happy to see the industry come together to adopt the guidelines of the AIGF charter to ensure best practices and player protection for the online Skill Gaming Industry.”
Powered by WPeMatico
The Karnataka government has announced that it will introduce a new law to regulate online betting and gaming.
Home Minister G Parameshwara said a committee of senior officials and industry representatives has been constituted and it has been given a month’s time to submit a draft of the proposed bill.
“I chaired a meeting regarding online betting and gambling yesterday along with the IT Minister. Representatives from the industry were called. There is nothing to regulate them so far. They have agreed to the introduction of a licence system and a regulation as per law,” he said.
The state government held a high-level meeting to discuss a legal framework for regulating online gaming.
IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said that the intent of the legislation is to curb online gambling, betting and games of chance, and protect consumers from fraud while supporting innovation and the sustainable growth of the skill-based gaming industry.
Karnataka is set to introduce a legal framework to ban gambling while permitting skill-based games following a model similar to that of Chhattisgarh.
Kharge said he held a detailed meeting with the state home minister, senior government officials, members of online gaming federations, and industry experts to discuss the proposed framework.
“The legitimate online skill-based gaming industry in India is a sunrise sector worth USD 4 billion, contributing Rs 12,000 crore in taxes and creating over 1.5 lakh jobs. Karnataka alone accounts for 25 percent of the market and contributes Rs 1350 crore annually in taxes, making it a key hub,” he said.
The minister also raised concerns over the growing underground market of offshore gambling and illegal betting.
“Alongside the legitimate sector, there is a parallel underground market that is expanding rapidly, posing risks such as predatory money collection practices, dubious shell companies, financial fraud, data breaches, and cybercrimes,” he said.
Kharge also held discussions with representatives of the E-Gaming Federation (EGF), the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) regarding their collaborative “Code of Ethics” for the industry.
The post Karnataka Govt to Introduce New Law to Regulate Online Betting and Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
GR8 Tech, the award-winning high-performance Sportsbook and iGaming platform, in partnership with iGB, offers a deep dive into the real opportunities—and real challenges—of India’s iGaming market.
With 1.4 billion people, 954 million internet users, and 448 million interested in gaming, India offers massive potential. But it’s not a market where global strategies can simply be copied and pasted. Success here demands a profound understanding of local player behavior, payment preferences, mobile-first user experience, and cricket’s dominance—insights all explored in GR8 Tech’s “2025 India Report: How to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Produced with the involvement of both local independent market experts and GR8 Tech professionals, the report examines everything from player behavior regarding sports betting and casinos to regulatory and taxation nuances. Some notable insights include:
- Cricket Dominance: The IPL attracts more betting activity than any match involving the national team. Cricket accounts for a massive share of sports betting in India, with 20 players betting on cricket for every 2 on football and 1 on kabaddi.
- Mobile-first audience: With 77% of online traffic coming from mobile devices, operators must optimize for mobile-first experiences to effectively engage players.
- Live casino & slots lead revenue: While live casino games drive the most revenue (56.4%), slots make up 47.5% of the total volume of bets. Instant games like Aviator and JetX are gaining ground, with Aviator alone accounting for 21% of one operator’s GGR.
- Skill-based games on the rise: Indian players are moving beyond luck-based games to more interactive, skill-based experiences. Games like Teen Patti, Andar Bahar, and crash games appeal to players looking for an active, strategic role in gameplay.
- Fantasy Sports Boom: Fantasy sports, particularly fantasy cricket, are on the rise and are expected to generate ₹388 billion in revenue by 2026.
- Localized Payment Preferences: Over 90% of deposits are made via the Unified Payments Interface, making it the dominant payment method for Indian players.
“India’s iGaming market is incredibly complex and offers immense opportunities, and we cannot underestimate the value of local expertise for understanding it. This report is grounded in insights from people who live the dynamics daily and have immense experience to share. It is not about shortcuts or immediate wins, but about building a realistic, informed perspective so that when the moment comes, you are ready to act with clarity and purpose,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech.
With a mobile-first audience, a deep cultural connection to cricket, and rising demand for interactive, skill-based games, success in India requires local insight. From understanding player behavior to optimizing payments and product mix, the opportunity is real—but so is the need to get it right.
To help you navigate, GR8 Tech is sharing “India Report: How to Take Advantage of the Opportunity”—an essential guide to thriving in one of the world’s most promising markets.
Download the full report now and get ahead in India’s iGaming evolution.
About GR8 Tech
GR8 Tech is a high-performance Sportsbook and iGaming platform provider.
GR8 Tech’s core strengths lie in its robust technology and focus on a personalized approach based on business needs, geographic focus, or operational verticals. From comprehensive offerings like Hyper Turnkey to specialized solutions such as the Sportsbook iFrame, Infinite Casino Aggregation, or Platform Acceler8 set, GR8 Tech provides UNbeatable flexibility and performance to drive operators’ growth and success.
Trusted by top operators worldwide, GR8 Tech has over 45 successful cases and earned multiple recognitions for its high-performance sportsbook-driven platform, including accolades from the SiGMA Awards, International Investor Awards, and GamingTECH Awards.
The post The Indian iGaming Opportunity Report: Insights for Sports Betting, Casino, Payments, and More appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
A parliamentary debate on Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill that had been planned to take place on Wednesday has been postponed until the next session amid rising anti-casino sentiment and concerns the bill is being rushed through.
Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed that the government would instead focus in the meantime on more pressing matters such as the aftermath of the recent earthquake and how to deal with the impact of the US tariffs.
Passage of the Entertainment Complex Bill has been coming under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks with anti-gambling advocates stating protests and a group of senators voicing their opposition to the speed with which the bill was seemingly making its way through parliament.
That’s despite the addition of a clause requiring locals to hold at least THB50 million (US$1.5 million) in their bank accounts to gain entry to Thailand’s legal casinos – a clause experts say would essentially force international operators to ditch their Thailand casino bids.
The post Thailand Postpones Parliamentary Debate on Casino Bill appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Balkans4 days agoCT Gaming Expands in Macedonia with a Landmark Installation
-
AGCO5 days ago
Playnetic granted Ontario supplier license
-
BiS SiGMA Americas4 days ago
OKTO Sets New Standards in Digital Payments at BIS SIGMA Americas
-
Aristocrat Interactive4 days ago
Logifuture enters Mexico as Zoom Soccer via Aristocrat Interactive partnership
-
Asia3 days ago
ESFI’s Lokesh Suji Re-Elected as Asian Electronic Sports Federation VP, South Asia, Strengthening India’s Esports Leadership
-
Canada4 days ago
ELK Studios Expands Partnership with SkillOnNet to Ontario Market
-
Latest News3 days ago
NOVOMATIC Argentina hosted a successful event with the ‘NOVOMATIC Experience’ during SAGSE 2025
-
Latest News5 days ago
SYNOT Games Introduces Dream Dial, a Brand-new Addition to PEAK
