eSports
NODWIN Gaming acquires gaming adjacent IPs and gaming talent business from OML Entertainment for INR 73 Crores
NODWIN Gaming doubles down on massifying esports by broadbasing the target fan audiences for gaming and esports entertainment.
NODWIN Gaming, South Asia’s leading esports company, and an independent subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Limited, has acquired the Gaming and adjacent IP business of OML Entertainment. NODWIN Gaming has agreed to a consideration of INR 73 crores as part of an agreement concluded between NODWIN Gaming and OML Entertainment. The transaction will provide partial liquidity to OML Entertainment shareholders, including CA Media. Ajay Nair, MD of OML Entertainment, will join the NODWIN Gaming board as part of this transaction and will work with Akshat Rathee, MD of NODWIN Gaming and the NODWIN Gaming management team to ensure smooth integration of the OML IPs with NODWIN Gaming and help with growing NODWIN Gaming’s business.
This acquisition taps into a growing synergy between the two companies. While NODWIN Gaming is known for its esports and gaming expertise. OML Entertainment is known for managing some of India’s biggest gaming & entertainment creators such as Tanmay Bhat, Samay Raina, Suhani Shah, etc. and for owning and executing storied IPs such as the BACARDÍ NH7 Weekender (described by The Guardian as “India’s answer to Glastonbury”), well-attended comedy touring properties such as LOLstars and Headliners and India’s biggest hip-hop league – Breezer Vivid Shuffle. OML Entertainment also works with some of the biggest brands in India to produce well known properties such as the Levi’s Music Week and the hugely successful YouTube FanFest.
Today’s youth demand an increasingly diverse and engaging experience as the lines between gaming, esports, comedy and music become blurred, and gaming becomes more mainstream. This transaction allows NODWIN Gaming to massify gaming and esports by tapping into emerging synergies in gaming entertainment that a 14–30-year-old is looking for. It enables the firm to build IPs that are relevant to fans and are more brand centric. The OML Entertainment team transferring to NODWIN Gaming as part of the transaction not only has proven capabilities in building world-class live experiences, but also will significantly enhance the multiple esports IPs that NODWIN Gaming organizes through the year including Dreamhack and India Premiership.
Akshat Rathee, Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming says “NODWIN Gaming strongly believes that continuous growth in the IP portfolio is central to building a vibrant ecosystem of fans, talent, broadcasters and brands. This has been the essence of NODWIN Gaming since the early days of creating The India premiership or Dew Arena. The addition of some of the largest IPs in India like NH7 weekender is going to accelerate the massification of esports and gaming entertainment across the spectrum of fans and brands. The multi-faceted talent that joins us cuts across gaming and pop culture and lays the perfect foundation for NODWIN Gaming to create more IPs. The proven capability of the brilliant team that joins us from OML Entertainment will further ensure that we can execute and monetise our IPs.”
Ajay Nair, Managing Director, OML Entertainment, added, “We believe in the convergence of different pop culture genres and have seen that this has already happened across several platforms and IPs. It makes a lot of sense to consolidate the strengths that OML Entertainment and NODWIN Gaming have in the live IPs and gaming spaces. Over the past years, our experience working with NODWIN Gaming has been very fruitful and we are confident that our live IPs and the teams that execute them have found a good home at NODWIN Gaming. OML Entertainment will continue to focus on building its OTT content production, talent management and branded content businesses. I look forward to working with Akshat and the NODWIN Gaming team to deliver on the true potential of this partnership.”
The total revenue of the acquired business of OML Entertainment during FY20 (pre-COVID) was INR 91 crore with EBITDA of ~10%. OML Entertainment will continue to consolidate its non-gaming creator-driven content and talent management businesses as it scales its OTT offerings and branded content marketing suite of services that currently works with over 700 creators across the world. This business had clocked revenues of INR 170 Cr in FY 2020 and has grown tremendously ever since.
Powered by WPeMatico
Banijay Asia, a part of Banijay Entertainment, and NODWIN Gaming, a material subsidiary of Nazara Technologies, today announced a strategic partnership to revolutionize esports, gaming and youth entertainment in India. This collaboration marks a significant step in blending cutting-edge content with the booming gaming and youth culture ecosystem. As part of this alliance, Banijay Asia will take the helm in producing Playground, NODWIN Gaming’s flagship gaming reality show that has redefined the intersection of gaming, entertainment, and influencer culture in the region. The partnership will also bring new scripted and captive reality shows to daylight, with both companies co-developing new intellectual properties (IPs) and pioneering fresh content concepts across gaming, esports and youth culture.
Deepak Dhar, Founder & Group CEO – Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India, commented, “This collaboration with NODWIN Gaming is an exciting extension of our vision to create content that resonates with evolving youth audiences. Gaming is not just a sport; it’s a culture, a lifestyle, and a massive content opportunity. With Playground and our upcoming IPs, we aim to redefine engagement and storytelling in this space.” He further added, “I look forward to the creative collaboration with Akshat Rathee, and Joost Roset who we previously worked with, in bringing iconic global IPs to India. This is an invaluable opportunity to create clutter-breaking formats in the youth and gaming space.”
With a diverse portfolio of high-impact IPs including the televised esports tournament – BGMI Masters Series (BGMS), Comic Con India, NH7 Weekender, and more, NODWIN Gaming is a key player in the gaming, esports and youth entertainment ecosystem.
Talking about the partnership, Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder & MD, NODWIN Gaming, said, “Youth entertainment is evolving rapidly, and our partnership with Banijay Asia positions us perfectly to lead that change. With Playground, we’ve just begun to explore what’s possible. Backed by Banijay’s global expertise, we’re now set to scale the IP across multiple languages and markets, with the ambition of building an international format. At the heart of our approach is our philosophy of ‘timeshare of mindshare’. We’re not just creating content, we’re creating cultural moments. The Rusk creative team will stay actively involved as we expand the universe of Playground, aiming to grow from one show to between five and ten each year. This is just the beginning of a bold new chapter in gaming and youth content.”
With gaming emerging as one of the most influential youth-driven industries, this partnership is poised to set new benchmarks in how gaming and entertainment are consumed in India. By leveraging Banijay Asia’s expertise in content creation and NODWIN Gaming’s deep-rooted understanding of gaming communities, the collaboration promises to push creative boundaries and capture the imagination of young audiences nationwide.
Banijay Entertainment has strong expertise in the gaming space, via its global distribution arm Banijay Rights, with successful gaming activations leveraging key brands including Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror, Simon’s Cat and MasterChef.
The post Banijay Asia and NODWIN Gaming form Strategic Partnership to Amplify Youth Engagement in India appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and GeoGuessr announced that GeoGuessr will join the Esports World Cup Festival tournament program, a new series of competitive events held alongside the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC). The Esports World Cup and its accompanying EWC Festival will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 through August 24.
The EWC Festival will play host to a Last Chance Wildcard Tournament for the 2025 GeoGuessr World Championship. Taking place during Week 3 (July 21–27), the last chance tournament will feature a $20,000 prize pool and award two spots for the GeoGuessr World Championship later this year in Copenhagen on August 29–30. 16 of the top ranked GeoGuessr players will be invited to compete for the final two places on the global stage.
Celebrated for transforming online exploration into a competitive experience, GeoGuessr joins the EWC Festival as a global fan favorite. Launched in 2013, the geography-based guessing game gained worldwide momentum in 2020, similar to Chess, which also debuts at EWC 2025 this year. Since then, GeoGuessr has attracted millions of players to its browser-based and Steam platforms, connecting players through exploration of countries, continents, and cultures. Using the widely recognized Google Street View, GeoGuessr makes exploring the world accessible to all.
“We’re excited to welcome GeoGuessr to the Esports World Cup 2025 as part of our EWC Festival tournament program,” said Fabian Scheuermann, Chief Games Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation. “Few games have captured the imagination of players around the world quite like it – its blend of exploration, puzzle solving, and fast-paced competition has turned it into a global phenomenon. Together, we are bringing GeoGuessr’s official tournament to the Middle East to grow global ecosystems, expand opportunities for players and fans, and showcase the diversity of modern competitive gaming on the world’s biggest stage.”
Since launching the official GeoGuessr World Championship in 2023, the game has further elevated itself into a professional esport, with elite players and creators drawing global audiences across competitive circuits and livestreams.
The inclusion of GeoGuessr at EWC represents a major milestone for the game’s competitive scene, placing it alongside iconic titles and opening new opportunities to reach players and fans worldwide. The EWCF remains committed to providing games with strong communities and competitive potential the platform to grow and thrive.
The Esports World Cup Festival is a global celebration of gaming and esports culture. From esports tournaments and live music stages to retro arcades, anime cafes, cosplay shows and creator studios, the EWC Festival invites millions to explore and play together in the heart of Riyadh during the Esports World Cup.
The Esports World Cup 2025 will feature 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, competing in 25 tournaments across 24 games for a record-breaking $70+ million prize pool.
The post GeoGuessr Joins the Esports World Cup Festival 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Esportes da Sorte
Esportes Gaming Brasil, the group behind Esportes da Sorte and Onabet, announces Hugo Baungartner as Executive Director for Institutional Relations and Partnerships
The executive will focus on expanding the group’s presence in Brazil’s regulated market, with an emphasis on institutional engagement, new business, and compliance.
Esportes Gaming Brasil, the group composed of Esportes da Sorte and Onabet, announces the appointment of Hugo Baungartner as its new Executive Director of Institutional Relations and Strategic Partnerships (Chief Business Officer – CBO). He joins the company’s leadership team with the mission of strengthening institutional engagement with public authorities, regulatory bodies, and strategic partners, as well as driving the continued expansion of the group in Brazil.
Baungartner will be responsible for liaising with institutions such as the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF), the Federal Revenue Service, the Central Bank, and COAF, as well as certification bodies and accredited laboratories. His responsibilities also include preparing the company for developments in the regulatory landscape.
“Hugo’s arrival strengthens our ability to act strategically in a constantly evolving sector. He brings an experienced, technical perspective aligned with the principles of governance and innovation that guide our group’s companies,” said Darwin Filho, CEO of Esportes Gaming Brasil.
“Brazil is going through a crucial moment in regulating the sector, and being at the forefront of this movement with such a relevant group is a challenge that truly motivates me. Our goal is to ensure our operations not only meet legal requirements but also serve as a benchmark for best practices, innovation, and sustainable growth,” said Hugo Baungartner.
With over 28 years of experience in the technology and gaming sectors, Baungartner will also be responsible for developing partnerships with global providers, evaluating merger and acquisition opportunities (M&A), and structuring new projects with full legal and regulatory compliance. He previously held leadership roles at companies such as Grupo Aposta Ganha, RCT Gaming, and Prohards.
The post Esportes Gaming Brasil, the group behind Esportes da Sorte and Onabet, announces Hugo Baungartner as Executive Director for Institutional Relations and Partnerships appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
-
Compliance Updates6 days agoAOJND and FEDBET to Appoint Expert Task Force to Support ONJN in Combating the Illegal Gambling Market
-
Brazil6 days ago
Brazilian Ministry of Sports and IBIA sign sports betting integrity agreement
-
Andrew Jackson VP Corporate Responsibility for Scientific Games6 days ago
Scientific Games iLottery Receives National Council on Problem Gambling’s iCAP Ready Accreditation
-
Balkans6 days ago
The First-ever Synot Day in Croatia Gets Positive Response
-
casinos6 days ago
Casinos24Online Unveils Its Own Top Bitcoin Casino Brands for 2025 Offering No Deposit Bonuses and Instant Withdrawals
-
BCLC5 days ago
Surrey Resident Wins Record-Breaking $80-Million Lotto Max Jackpot
-
Flutter Entertainment5 days agoFlutter Entertainment Announces Completion of NSX Acquisition
-
Asia5 days ago
IGT Wins “Best Casino Supply” Category at 2025 G2E Asia Awards
