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
IGT Wins “Best Casino Supply” Category at 2025 G2E Asia Awards

International Game Technology PLC announced that it won the “Best Casino Supply” category in the 2025 G2E Asia Awards. In their 16th year, the G2E Asia Awards are evaluated by a panel of industry experts and recognize excellence and innovation in Asia’s gaming and entertainment industry.
“Winning the ‘Best Casino Supply’ category in the 2025 G2E Asia Awards was an extraordinary start to IGT’s showing at G2E Asia and a direct reflection of our ongoing commitment to delivering great games and systems to our customers across the Asia-Pacific region. IGT’s high-performing games such as Rising Rockets Link are helping operators diversify their gaming floors and offer popular game mechanics with a compelling presentation. I thank the many IGT employees around the world who contributed to this win and are helping fuel the Company’s momentum in Asia,” said Dallas Orchard, IGT Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Gaming APAC.
IGT’s Rising Rocket Link multi-level progressive (MLP) underpinned the Company’s win in the “Best Casino Supply” category. Rising Rockets Link has captivated players across Asia, quickly becoming IGT’s highest-performing game in the region. The game leverages a combination of proven mechanics and strong math and is presented on the globally deployed CrystalCurve49 and the PeakCurve49 cabinets.
The post IGT Wins “Best Casino Supply” Category at 2025 G2E Asia Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Esports Returns to Singapore with BLAST’s Dota 2 Arena Event After Sellout Counter-Strike World Final 2024

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BLAST Dota Slam Singapore to take place this November at Singapore Indoor Stadium in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board and AEG Presents Asia
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The world’s best Dota teams will meet in Singapore from 4th – 9th November 2025 to compete for a prize pool of $1,000,000 at the first ever BLAST Slam arena event
Esports entertainment company BLAST has announced the return of its world-class events to Singapore with the BLAST Dota Slam Singapore, set to take place in November 2025 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
This announcement follows the sellout success of the BLAST Premier World Final 2024, which marked BLAST’s Southeast Asia debut and saw more than ten-thousand fans pack out the Resorts World Convention Centre to witness the world’s top Counter-Strike teams compete for the $1 million prize pool.
Building on that momentum, Singapore will now host the BLAST Dota Slam arena event, teaming up with AEG Presents Asia again to bring together the world’s best Dota teams to battle it out for $1,000,000 in front of a live audience and millions of fans tuning in globally across 50+ territories and in 12 languages.
The BLAST Dota Slam Singapore is the latest milestone in BLAST’s global expansion into Dota 2, and reinforces Singapore’s growing reputation as a premier destination for sports and live entertainment. It marks the second consecutive year the city-state has hosted a BLAST arena tournament, following the successful Counter-Strike event in 2024.
James Woollard, Director of Market Development at BLAST, said: “Singapore delivered one of the most passionate esports crowds we’ve ever seen during last year’s BLAST Premier World Final. We’re thrilled to be returning with our next major arena show – this time for Dota 2 – and to once again partner with the Singapore Tourism Board and AEG Presents Asia to help to further grow Southeast Asia’s esports ecosystem. The response to our events in Singapore has been incredible, and this November’s Dota Slam promises to be another landmark moment for fans and for the region. Singapore has an impressive history and pedigree for the biggest international sporting events, supported by STB, and BLAST is proud to be building on this with the biggest esports events.”
Ms Lilian Chee, Director, Sports, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “We are delighted to welcome BLAST back to Singapore, this time with the Dota Slam. Building on the success of the BLAST Premier World Final, this event further reinforces Singapore’s reputation as a world-class destination for sports and live entertainment. We look forward to welcoming the passionate fans, players and partners once again to our vibrant city.”
BLAST’s return to Singapore is set to shine a global spotlight on the city while delivering significant economic benefits and meaningful destination marketing. With an estimated economic impact in the tens of millions, the tournament further demonstrates how esports events are evolving into major cultural and economic drivers for host cities – on par with large-scale traditional international sporting events.
With Singapore, Rio, London, Austin, and Lyon among the major destinations on BLAST’s global calendar this year, it is evident that governments, cities and tourism bodies are recognising the power of esports to attract young and engaged visitors, create jobs, and drive international visibility.
The post Esports Returns to Singapore with BLAST’s Dota 2 Arena Event After Sellout Counter-Strike World Final 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
DSTGAMING Shortlisted in Two Categories at SIGMA Asia Awards 2025

DSTGAMING has announced that it has been shortlisted in two prestigious categories at the SIGMA Asia Awards 2025: Best Platform and Best UI/UX. These nominations mark a significant achievement, recognising DSTGAMING’s continued dedication to delivering high-performance, user-centric solutions in the iGaming sector.
The SIGMA Asia Awards celebrate the most impactful contributors across the iGaming industry in the Asia-Pacific region. To be shortlisted in both the Best Platform and Best UI/UX categories is a strong testament to DSTGAMING’s dual focus on technological robustness and seamless user experiences.
DSTGAMING’s all-in-one iGaming platform has been widely recognised for its scalability, reliability and flexibility. With modular architecture and full customisation capabilities, the platform empowers operators to tailor offerings precisely to their market needs. Its seamless integrations, powerful backend and real-time analytics tools offer an unmatched operational advantage to partners worldwide.
In the Best UI/UX category, DSTGAMING has gained recognition for prioritising intuitive navigation, visually engaging interfaces and mobile-first designs. The platform is built to deliver a smooth, immersive player journey across all devices — critical for enhancing engagement and retention in today’s competitive market.
These dual nominations reflect DSTGAMING’s core values: innovation, user satisfaction and technical excellence. The company’s design and development teams have worked closely to align user interface aesthetics with operational functionality — ensuring both players and operators receive a seamless and responsive experience.
The post DSTGAMING Shortlisted in Two Categories at SIGMA Asia Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Esports Returns to Singapore with BLAST’s Dota 2 Arena Event After Sellout Counter-Strike World Final 2024