Asia
Galaxy Racer partners with Pakistan’s newest technology authority and announces regions biggest esports tournament

Galaxy Racer, the world’s fastest growing esports, gaming and lifestyle company, takes a massive leap by signing with the newly established STZA (Special Technology Zones Authority) in the presence of Pakistani President Dr. Arif Alvi at a special ceremony held in Dubai, UAE. STZA is a new Pakistani government initiative that encourages foreign technology companies to invest in Pakistan. Galaxy Racer has become the first esports company to establish itself with STZA.
On the occasion, Galaxy Racer also announced that they are hosting the biggest esports tournament in Pakistan with esports titles such as Tekken, PUBGM and FIFA that offers a total winning prize of 100,000 USD. It is scheduled to be held in December 2021. The event will also be hosting an Influencer Con, and a Toys and Gaming Festival, bringing the world of entertainment to Pakistan. Further details will be announced soon.
Fakhr-e-Alam has said that the forthcoming esports tournament will be the first in Pakistan to be televised nationwide through a partnership with Ten Sports Pakistan.
Galaxy Racer has recently announced its partnership with celebrity entrepreneur Fakhr-e-Alam as part of its South Asia expansion plans to grow the local ecosystem, with Fakhr-e-Alam spearheading Galaxy Racer Pakistan. Pakistan has recently legitimized esports in 2021, by granting it the ‘regular sports’ status, a big win for the esports industry in Pakistan.
With the rise of mobile games, developing countries have been recognised as one of the largest untapped emerging markets for esports and gaming. With 100 million broadband subscribers, Pakistan’s gaming scene has the potential to dramatically evolve and many youngsters have already made their mark. Earlier in 2021, Galaxy Racer signed Nyle ‘Nyle’ Hasan, the country’s top Fortnite player.
Galaxy Racer has a global footprint with over 400 million followers worldwide, with over 2 billion monthly views. Esports has gradually grown in popularity over the years and the global market is set to reach US$1 billion for the first time in 2021, according to a report by esports data intelligence firm, Newzoo.
Fakhr-e-Alam, CEO of Galaxy Racer Pakistan commented, “This is the beginning of esports and influencer marketing in Pakistan. We are all set to take Pakistani gamers and influencers to the rest of the world. With a vibrant youth and huge digital growth, we will see a massive paradigm shift in gaming and content consumption in Pakistan. Galaxy Racer’s aim is going to be simple and that is to fuel this growth at lightning speed.”
Amer Hashmi, Chairman of STZA, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Galaxy Racer to Pakistan. At STZA, we look forward to working with Galaxy Racer in establishing a better and healthier video gaming environment for Pakistani youth and create an atmosphere of further investment and growth in this segment in Pakistan.”
Back in January 2021, Galaxy Racer, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, together with Cinepax, organised the first-ever Pakistan vs. India Fortnite tournament with a prize pool of US$10,000, the biggest prize pool in the history of any Pakistani esports tournament.
Earlier in July 2021, Galaxy Racer joined forces together with Arsenal superstar English Premier League footballer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang by hosting the first-ever Fortnite esports tournament between Europe and the Middle East with a EURO 10,000 prize pool.
Galaxy Racer has formed a three-year partnership with Spanish football league LaLiga. The partnership will see both entities collaborate to create an original content series that will feature players from LaLiga, as well as Galaxy Racer’s influencers.
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Asia
The Indian iGaming Opportunity Report: Insights for Sports Betting, Casino, Payments, and More

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.
Asia
Thailand Postpones Parliamentary Debate on Casino Bill

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.
Asia
ESFI’s Lokesh Suji Re-Elected as Asian Electronic Sports Federation VP, South Asia, Strengthening India’s Esports Leadership

In a significant boost for Indian esports, Lokesh Suji has been re-elected unopposed as Vice President for South Asia in the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) during its recent online Electoral General Assembly in Hong Kong for a four-year term. Holding this position since AESF’s inception, Suji’s re-election highlights India’s growing influence in international esports, reinforcing the Esports Federation of India’s (ESFI) role in shaping the region’s competitive gaming landscape.
The AESF Electoral General Assembly, chaired by outgoing President Kenneth Fok, convened representatives from 38 member nations and OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Tiwari. Thailand’s Santi Lothong secured the AESF Presidency with a simple majority, alongside new Vice Presidents for different Asian zones.
“I am deeply grateful for the continued trust placed in me and extend my sincere thanks to Kenneth (Fok) for his leadership and guidance over the years. I also look forward to working closely with Santi (Lothong) for this next phase. This re-election is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the remarkable growth of esports in India and South Asia. Esports in Asia is entering a defining era, and I am committed to ensuring that our players, federations, and stakeholders receive the recognition, opportunities, and platforms they deserve,” said Lokesh Suji, Vice President, South Asia, of AESF and Director of ESFI.
As Asia’s esports governing body, recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), AESF has been instrumental in getting esports included in Asian Games and hosting major tournaments like the Asian Esports Games 2018 and the Asian Games 2022, featuring top titles such as Dota 2, Street Fighter 6, and FIFA Online. AESF has also been selected as the Technical Delegate for Esports at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Commenting on Suji’s re-election, Santi Lothong, the incoming AESF President, said: “Having worked alongside Lokesh for years, I have witnessed his unwavering dedication to developing esports in South Asia and beyond. His leadership, vision, and relentless efforts have helped shape the region’s competitive landscape. I look forward to continuing our collaboration and strengthening esports across Asia under this new leadership phase.”
Kenneth Fok, the outgoing AESF President, added: “Lokesh has been a steadfast pillar in AESF’s journey, always pushing to elevate esports across Asia. His passion and commitment have left a lasting impact, shaping key initiatives and strengthening our community. It’s been a pleasure working alongside him, and I am confident he will continue driving esports forward.”
Under Suji’s leadership, India has made significant strides in esports, with historic medal finishes in the Commonwealth Esports Championship 2022, BRICS Esports Championship and Asian Esports Games and strong performances in the Asian Games 2018 and 2022, where Indian athletes proved their mettle against the world’s best. ESFI is further cementing India’s esports dominance with the WAVES Esports Championship (WESC) —a pioneering initiative that fosters homegrown talent and provides Indian players with an international platform to compete at the highest level. WAVES Esports Championship is one of the ‘Create in India Challenge’ as part of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s marque event ‘World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit’ (WAVES) to be held on 1-4 May 2025, Mumbai.
Recognized by and Member of the International Esports Federation, Asian Esports Federation, and Global Esports Federation, ESFI remains dedicated to strengthening India’s position on the global esports stage.
The post ESFI’s Lokesh Suji Re-Elected as Asian Electronic Sports Federation VP, South Asia, Strengthening India’s Esports Leadership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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