Asia
Esports athletes & Gamers met Hon’ble MOS (MeitY) Shri Rajeev Chandrashekhar to review online gaming rules

Led by Rajeev Chandrashekhar, Minister of State for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, MeitY held a very meaningful & successful consultation with children, parents, teachers, esports athletes, gamers, and safety and trust organizations on the proposed amendments to the IT Rules 2021 in relation to online gaming on Wednesday 11th Jan at Electronics Niketan, MeitY office, New Delhi.
Distinguished Esports athletes, Tirth Mehta (Asian Games’18 Bronze Medalist), Karman Singh Tikka (Team India – Esports, Asian Games’22), Dhruv Salvadi and Snehil Ahirwar alongside Lokesh Suji, Director of Esports Federation of India and Board Member & VP, Asian Esports Federation were part of the prominent group present at the discussion and gave their fundamental insights & suggestions on the matter. Shri Priyank Kanoongo (Chairperson – National Commission for Protection of Child Rights) was also present at this meeting.
Professor (Dr.) Tejpavan Gandhok (Vice Dean – JGBS, Associate Director Centre for Sports Law & Governance, Jindal Global University) highlighted “We suggest using different terminology and/ or clarifying the current draft’s definition of ‘online games’ – to better cater for 4 distinct segments of games: Real money; Casual; Esports; and learning. Also, the best practice safeguards to be adopted by the proposed guidelines should be appropriately tailored for these 4 distinct segments”
According to MeitY’s Information Technology (IT) Rules, 2021 in relation to online gaming, “online game” means a game that is offered on the Internet and is accessible by a user through a computer resource if he makes a deposit with the expectation of earning winnings.
Raising a crucial query on this point, Dhruv Salvadi (an avid gamer who recently graduated from Manipal Institute of Technology) said, “Multiple esports tournaments organised at college or ground level at times require a registration fee in order for the athletes and teams to compete in it whereupon the winners are presented with prizes which may be in cash and/or kind. This rule can create confusion among the public regarding such Esports tournaments/championships Hence clarity is needed in the definition of ‘online gaming’, he was also of the same opinion that instead of ‘online gaming’ it should be ‘igaming’ so as to establish a clear difference between Esports (which is sport and played electronically) and igaming”
Dhruv further pointed out “Also, for video games that charge users to use their products or contain microtransactions, will all online video game developers need to get KYC for their users?” to which Rajeev ji said, “e-KYC is mandatory for all financial transactions”.
Further, expressing his opinion on the need for differentiating between video gaming and online gaming, Lokesh Suji also a former esports athlete who participated in Call of Duty World Championship – 2018 (New Orleans) said, “The worldwide & dictionary meaning of ‘online game’ is “electronic game played over a computer network, particularly over the Internet”, whereas the draft has added “deposit with the expectation of earning winnings” to this, and is confusing for the public at large. Since these amendments are to regulate fantasy, teen patti, poker, rummy, betting, gambling etc., instead of calling them ‘online gaming’ we should define them as ‘igaming’ the way the rest of the world has defined them.”
This enlightening meeting will play a crucial role in the proposed amendments for the IT Rules related to igaming and propel the industry to remarkable heights.
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Asia
Asian Poker Tour Announces Cancellation of APT Manila 2025

The Asian Poker Tour has announced the cancellation of APT Manila 2025, which was scheduled to take place from May 30 to June 8, 2025, at the City of Dreams Manila.
The next scheduled APT tour stop following the upcoming APT Taipei 2025—running April 25 to May 4 with a TWD 70M (~USD 2.1M) guaranteed Main Event—will be the APT Incheon 2025; boasting a KRW 2.5M buy-in Main Event with a KRW 1.5B (~USD 1M) guarantee running August 1-10 at the Paradise Hotel & Resort.
This will be followed by the APT Jeju 2025, which boasts a KRW 2.6M buy-in Main Event with a KRW 2.2B (~USD 1.5M) prize pool guarantee and runs from September 26 to October 5 at Jeju Shinhwa World.
The 2025 APT poker schedule will conclude with the thrilling end of year APT Championship (APTC), which runs from November 14-30, 2025 at the Red Point Center’s brand new “Red Space” venue located in central Taipei.
The APTC Main Event boasts a massive TWD 165 million (~USD 5 million) prize pool guarantee – the largest the tour has ever offered.
Players can win their seat to this exciting TWD 350,000 (~USD 10,700) freezeout by competing in the tour’s three signature events—the APT Main Event, the APT High Roller and the APT Super High Roller—at each of the three remaining APT tour stops preceding the APTC.
The post Asian Poker Tour Announces Cancellation of APT Manila 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Birmingham City Forms Alliance with GOD55 as Their Official Asian Betting Partner

GOD55, a premier online gaming platform and leading operator in Southeast Asia, is proud to announce its partnership with Birmingham City Football Club as the club’s Official Asian Betting Partner.
Established in 2016, GOD55 has become one of the biggest and most trusted brands in the online gaming industry, offering a wide range of betting and entertainment options, including casino games, sports betting, and live dealer experiences. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, the platform provides users with seamless mobile and desktop access, real-time data integration, and high-quality streaming for live events.
As part of this exciting partnership, GOD55 has launched an exciting announcement film, filmed on location at Birmingham City’s St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park and Elite Performance Innovation Centre.
A spokesperson for GOD55 commented: “We are delighted to partner with Birmingham City, a club with a rich history and a dedicated global fanbase. This collaboration reflects our commitment to connecting with football enthusiasts and delivering an enhanced entertainment experience. Together, we aim to engage fans in innovative ways, celebrating the beautiful game while offering a world-class gaming platform for our users in Asia.”
Birmingham City also expressed their excitement about the partnership: “We’re thrilled to welcome GOD55 to the Birmingham City family as our Official Asian Betting Partner. This partnership highlights the club’s growing international appeal and provides an opportunity to further engage with our supporters in Asia. We look forward to working closely with GOD55 to achieve great things together.”
The post Birmingham City Forms Alliance with GOD55 as Their Official Asian Betting Partner appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
FOMO7 Expands Platform with 46 New Indian Lottery Games

FOMO7, a trusted name in online entertainment, has unveiled a massive update to its gaming platform with 46 exciting new Indian lottery games, giving players even more chances to win guaranteed prizes in addition to their regular winnings.
This new launch brings a diverse mix of India’s most beloved lottery formats, including:
• Kerala Lottery
• Speed Matka Lottery
• Daily Matka Lottery
• Dear Lottery
• Daily Pick3, Pick4 & Pick5 Lotteries
• Wingo Lottery
With minimum bets starting at just ₹6, draws are held as frequently as every minute, and scheduled daily, weekly, and at popular time slots like 8 AM, 9 AM, 5 PM, 8 PM and 10 PM, offering a dynamic and rewarding experience for both casual and seasoned players. Top winnings go up to ₹10 Crores, making this one of the most lucrative opportunities in the online lottery space today.
In addition to its rich selection of lottery games, FOMO7 offers a comprehensive gaming experience with casino games, sports betting, instant sports and classic live sports, catering to all kinds of online gaming enthusiasts.
The post FOMO7 Expands Platform with 46 New Indian Lottery Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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