Asia
Rapper Shloka teams up with ESPL Season 2 BGMI gamers to launch an exclusive rap song video

Rappers Rahul Karn, aka Shloka and MC Maalik have curated a gaming rap song featuring top participants from the second edition of ESports Premier League (ESPL).
The song titled “Stop at Nothing” portrays the grit and determination of the participants contesting in the tournament.
The song also features star influencers and popular personalities from the BGMI community like Yogesh Yadav (Roxx). Roxx is a former PUBG Mobile Premier League South Asian Champion and he is currently playing for Team Celtz Esports. Other names to feature in the song include Gopal Sarda (Hastar BTC) and Sambhav Khatang (iMazik), renowned gaming content creators, BGMI professionals, and team members in Hyderabad Hydras, ESPL’s first-ever franchise team from Hyderabad. The song also features Jasper (Ace Black), Arun (Maxy), Bharatwaji (CarryOP), and Prasanth C (Striker).
Talking about the significance of this rap song, ESPL director Vishwalok Nath said, “The song will definitely add a bit of adrenaline rush in the gaming community as hip hop has always blended well with gaming. Hip hop and gaming share seamless energy and rhythm. The song also features some of the most talented Esports players and will surely help showcase the rise of this tournament. Working with artist Shloka and all other content creators was a delightful experience and this rap song will surely create the right buzz just ahead of the ESPL LAN finals.”
Shloka came to prominence as one of India’s First Rap Reality Show Finalists in a popular TV show called “MTV Hustle”. MTV Hustle is India’s first rap reality show judged by popular singers like Raftaar, Nucleya, and Raja Kumari. Shloka was among the top five talents at the end of the Season 1 of the show.
The rapper duo has used various gaming analogies in the hip-hop video, which aims to create buzz and excitement for the League as it is nearing the grand finale. The music producer of this song is GJ Storm.
The tournament is currently in the second phase of invitational qualifiers that will end on July 27. The remaining 8 finalists will emerge from this round and will join the other 8 teams to compete in the ESPL Season 2 LAN Finals.
Recently, ESports Premier League (ESPL) extended its association with youth icon and renowned Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff as the face of India’s first-ever franchise-based esports league for the second consecutive year.
India Today Gaming has also roped in the global smartphone brand, TECNO Mobile as the Presenting Sponsor for the tournament. The smartphone maker is committed to supporting and helping aspiring esports players with its gaming-focused smartphones like the latest, Tecno Pova 3.
Esports fans can also watch the BGMI action live on India’s leading streaming platform, LOCO, the exclusive digital broadcast partner for ESPL Season 2. The tournament organizer has also signed Ishq FM as the exclusive radio partner for the ongoing tournament.
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Asia
Indonesia Prepares VPN Laws to Crack Down on Illegal Online Gambling

Indonesia is preparing to introduce new rules targeting the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), to crack down on the broader access to illegal online gambling. The move signifies a stronger push by authorities to tighten internet oversight amid growing concerns over unregulated digital activity.
While officials have not really explicitly mentioned gambling platforms, the intention seems to be clear. The aim of the move is to restrict tools that allow Indonesians to bypass government firewalls and access banned content. As the country battles a surge in illegal online gambling, VPNs have become a major target in the regulatory issue.
Indonesia currently ranks as the third-highest user of VPN services worldwide, behind only the UAE and India. A 2024 report by Windscribe, a global VPN provider, found that roughly 41% of Indonesian internet users use VPNs. This tool is largely used to bypass state-enacted censorship and access geo-blocked websites.
Online gambling, is strictly banned under Indonesian law, but is still thriving via VPN-enabled access to international platforms. These tools allow users to hide their digital footprints, and makes it challenging for authorities to enforce law.
“VPNs are being misused to reach sites and apps that are clearly illegal. We are developing a framework to ensure their usage aligns with the law,” said Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan, Director General of Informatics Applications at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, in a recent statement.
The upcoming regulations, which are currently under ministerial review, aim to restrict VPN use by requiring providers to register with the government. Unregistered VPN services could be blocked outright. Officials are also considering legal consequences for users found accessing restricted services via unlicensed VPNs.
As for now, no timeline has been officially announced. But local media has reported that draft rules may be finalized by the end of the year.
The current online gambling environment in Indonesia is vast, and mostly hidden. Users often access offshore platforms hosted in regions with lenient enforcement. These platforms promise anonymity, instant payouts, and enticing rewards, thus driving a cycle of addiction and financial ruin for many.
The post Indonesia Prepares VPN Laws to Crack Down on Illegal Online Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Indian Gaming Industry Expresses Concern About Proposed Online Gaming Bill

The real money gaming (RMG) industry has been thrown into unprecedented turmoil after the Union Cabinet approved The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The proposed legislation seeks to outlaw all forms of pay-to-play online games, covering both games of skill and games of chance. If passed in Parliament, this would effectively ban the operations of legitimate RMG platforms across the country.
Industry stakeholders say the move was taken abruptly and without dialogue. “There was absolutely no consultation with the companies that have built this sector,” one executive said, adding that the decision violates multiple constitutional safeguards and will almost certainly face a legal challenge.
The industry’s pushback comes at a delicate moment. Only last week, on August 12, the Supreme Court bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan reserved its judgment on petitions concerning the classification of online games of skill and chance. The Court’s ruling was expected to provide clarity on a sector valued at over $3 billion. Instead, the Cabinet’s surprise approval of the bill has left companies reeling.
Industry voices argue that the move disregards the legitimate contributions of RMG platforms to India’s economy. By their estimates, the sector contributes nearly ₹20,000 crore annually to the exchequer through taxes and compliance payments, while directly and indirectly employing more than two lakh people. A blanket ban, they argue, would wipe out this entire ecosystem overnight.
The strongest criticism has come from the government’s failure to control illegal offshore betting firms. Companies like Parimatch, 1xBet and Dafabet continue to operate in India, despite repeated reports of their involvement in money laundering, hawala transactions and illegal gambling.
“Instead of cracking down on these notorious offshore firms, the government is choosing to penalize Indian companies that follow rules, pay taxes, and create jobs. This flawed approach not only risks shutting down a legitimate industry but also allows the black market to thrive unchecked,” said an industry representative.
Industry insiders caution that if the bill becomes law, Indian users may simply shift to unregulated foreign platforms, further draining revenue away from the country and undermining consumer protections.
The government, however, has defended its proposal by highlighting the social costs of online money gaming. The draft note accompanying the bill points to the “immersive and addictive nature” of pay-to-play platforms, warning that monetary incentives have triggered rising cases of anxiety, depression and behavioural problems among young users.
Citing clinical studies, the note claims prolonged gaming has worsened mental health issues, particularly among children and adolescents. The draft further warns of financial risks, with many players suffering losses that have, in some cases, led to suicides.
“These platforms employ predatory tactics—loot boxes, microtransactions, and reward systems—that exploit psychological triggers to encourage overspending. Such practices create cycles of debt and vulnerability,” the note says.
Despite acknowledging concerns about addiction and financial harm, industry groups insist that prohibition is the wrong path. They argue that a balanced regulatory framework—similar to models adopted in advanced markets—would provide consumer safeguards without dismantling the sector.
“Banning regulated RMG firms while letting offshore betting companies operate unchecked will only worsen the problem. The government should be working with us to build safeguards, not pushing us out,” said a gaming association leader.
The post Indian Gaming Industry Expresses Concern About Proposed Online Gaming Bill appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
CGMC Awards Competency Certificates to 40 Trainees

The Commercial Gambling Management Commission (CGMC) has awarded competency certificates to 40 trainees, aiming to strengthen workforce standards and ensure compliance in the casino sector to support sustainable industry growth and economic stability.
The certificate of competency award ceremony for 40 candidates who completed the third training course on the “Foundation of Casino Special Employee Type A” was presided over by Chantha Chhoeng, Technical Advisor to the General Secretariat of the CGMC, in Phnom Penh on August 17.
According to a CGMC press release on August 18, the programme was designed to upgrade the skills of casino special employees, ensuring the workforce meets professional standards and contributes to the continued growth of Cambodia’s regulated casino industry.
The certificate is a vital document confirming trainees’ ability to perform casino functions in line with existing laws and regulations, thereby strengthening compliance and accountability across the commercial gambling sector, the statement added.
The CGMC underlined that casino operators must use the certificate when applying for or renewing special employee licenses. This ensures only qualified personnel enter the workforce, a measure deemed critical for sustainable sector development and investor confidence.
The post CGMC Awards Competency Certificates to 40 Trainees appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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