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ESFI Conducts Special Meet with IOA

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In a bid to discuss the growth of Esports in the country and hand over exclusive training kits produced by Hama to the Indian Esports contingent that will be participating at the Hangzhou Asian Games, the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) organised a special meet with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) at the IOA Office in Delhi on Wednesday.

The event was graced by Mr. Kalyan Chaubey, Joint secretary & acting CEO of the IOA who presented the training kits to Street Fighter V athlete Mayank Prajapati, League of Legends player Mihir Ranjan and FIFA ace Harman Tikka in the presence of Mr. Lokesh Suji, Director of ESFI & Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF), Mr. Yugal Sharma, Vice President of ESFI and Mr. Prabhat Kumar, Vice-President of ESFI.

Mr. Chaubey also engaged in a discussion with the ESFI representatives and Indian athletes to motivate them for the Asian Games and talk about fostering an ecosystem that enables Esports to thrive in the country.

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Addressing the queries of the Esports athletes present, Kalyan Chaubey, the Joint secretary & acting CEO of the IOA said, “We are confident about Esports having a strong future in India where it will generate a significant amount of interest driven by the young demographic of players in the country. Esports is a new-age sport that every country is playing and the upcoming Asian Games will mark the beginning of a marathon where we hope that our talented athletes help India take a giant lead against the other competitors. Just like the USA is synonymous with baseball, Finland is with ice hockey, and Brazil, Spain, and Germany are with football today, the world should be talking about India whenever we talk about Esports. The IOA remains fully committed to supporting our athletes & ESFI in every possible way, standing by them as they strive to achieve remarkable success and bring home medals.”

Esports recently gained official recognition as a multi-sport event by the government of India and is set to make its debut as a full-fledged medal sport at the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games. The country will be sending a proficient 15-member contingent to compete in four different titles including DOTA 2, FIFA 22, Street Fighter V and League of Legends at the prestigious tournament set to take place from September 23 to October 8.

Speaking on the occasion, Street Fighter athlete Mayank Prajapati commented, “We felt really good after meeting with Kalyan sir and having a positive discussion about Esports with him. His being as passionate about Esports as us gamers made the conversation enlightening for all of us and overall, it was a super productive experience. Also, a huge shout-out to ESFI & Hama for providing us with the gaming peripherals.”

The athletes secured their berth for the tournament by prevailing in the National Esports Championship (NESC 22) organised by the ESFI last year. The rest of the members of the Indian contingent will receive their training kits via courier.

“Hearing Mr. Kalyan answer our queries was quite reassuring for all of us. It was a motivating session that helped us realize how the IOA is supporting our endeavors and taking an active effort to further broaden the scope of Esports in India,” said League of Legends athlete Mihir Ranjan.

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Comprising state-of-the-art gaming accessories including a mouse, mousepad, headset, keyboard and a bag, the training kits will enhance the performance of the country’s athletes when they represent India on the international stage.

“I was really happy to see Indian Olympic Association support us with top-quality facilities. It gives us motivation to perform better and make our country proud. The facilities provided to us will help us step up our game at the Asian Games,” said FIFA athlete Karman Tikka.

While the ESFI has been instrumental in preparing the Indian Esports contingent for the Asian Games, their recent multi-year partnership with FITGMR will be key to enabling a comprehensive training programme that will provide the athletes with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed on the global stage.

“We are extremely thankful to the IOA and Mr. Kalyan Chaubey for sharing their invaluable vision regarding the development of Esports in the country and extending their support in fostering its growth. India’s talented athletes competing at the Asian Games in Hangzhou will serve as a pivotal moment in the country’s Esports journey so far. The training kits presented to them today will equip them in their optimal preparation for the tournament, boosting their performance to let them play at the highest level. Everyone at ESFI is looking forward to working with the IOA to help our athletes make the country proud,” said Mr. Lokesh Suji, Director of ESFI & Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF).

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BetLeap – The Online Casino that Looks Like a Blockbuster Video Game

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BetLeap is thrilled to announce the development of a groundbreaking platform that seamlessly blends the immersive visuals and engaging gameplay of AAA video games with the thrill of a real-money casino. Coming to PC, Mac, and VR, BetLeap is poised to redefine the online entertainment landscape with its unprecedented quality and innovative format.

At a glance, BetLeap looks nothing like a typical online casino. The project is being developed with the same technologies used in cutting-edge video games. The result? A casino experience that feels more like playing at a land-based casino rather than clicking on buttons on a flat screen.

“The online casino industry has remained virtually unchanged for over a decade while video gaming has experienced exponential leaps in quality and immersion,” said Adam Bernath, founder of BetLeap. “We’re not just updating the online casino experience—we’re completely reimagining it by applying AAA game development standards to create something that feels as immersive and engaging as the best video games on the market.”

“The future of online gambling isn’t just about better odds or more games—it’s about creating genuinely entertaining experiences that happen to include wagering components. We’re building for an audience that expects the quality and engagement of modern video games in every digital experience they choose,” added Etibar Namazov, co-founder of BetLeap.

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While still in early development, BetLeap is already turning heads with its visual quality and ambitious design.

Why BetLeap Stands Out:

  • Next-Gen Graphics: Built with AAA quality visuals.
  • Cross-Platform Play: Fully playable on PC, Mac, and VR.
  • Designed for Gamers: Movement, interaction, and immersion at the core.
  • Real Rewards: Wager real money in a world that looks and feels on par with today’s top video games.

Our reveal video can be found at https://youtu.be/wl9zibRrMvI

The post BetLeap – The Online Casino that Looks Like a Blockbuster Video Game appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Skyesports Championship BGMI Set for Sixth Edition Featuring INR 40 Lakhs Prize Pool, Grand Finals on May 17–18 in Bangalore

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The Skyesports Championship, India’s longest-running homegrown esports IP, is returning for its sixth edition with BGMI and a prize pool of ₹40 Lakhs, culminating in an on-ground Grand Finals on May 17 and 18 in Bangalore.

Leading brands including AMD, Red Bull, GIGABYTE, and Western Digital have partnered with Skyesports for the 2025 edition, reaffirming their commitment to India’s rapidly expanding gaming ecosystem.

Commenting on the return of the IP, Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO, Skyesports, said, “The Skyesports Championship is an IP we’ve been nurturing since 2018, growing year after year into one of India’s most recognized esports tournaments with a highly engaged youth audience. We are excited to have partners like AMD, Red Bull, GIGABYTE, and Western Digital joining us for this event, allowing us to deliver a top-notch entertainment product for fans with engaging competitive esports action featuring top-tier teams and esports athletes the country has to offer. With initiatives like the new Sky Champ Rule, this tournament is set to be a standout event on the BGMI esports calendar.”

The return of the Skyesports Championship as an on-ground BGMI event builds on the success of its 2023 edition, which recorded over 32 million digital views and attracted more than 12,000 fans to the stadium.

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This momentum reflects India’s position as the fastest-growing gaming market across Asia and MENA, as reported by Niko Partners. The Indian games market is expected to surpass $1 billion in 2025, reaching $1.4 billion in revenue by 2028. Mobile gaming continues to lead, accounting for nearly 78% of all revenue. With an expected 277 million new gamers by 2028, India is also on track to overtake China in the highest total number of gamers worldwide.

As the country’s leading esports tournament organizer, Skyesports continues to drive this momentum by delivering high-impact, community-driven esports experiences at scale.

The Skyesports Championship 2025 BGMI Grand Finals will feature an exciting new format:

  • Day 1 (May 17) – Sky Surge: Teams will compete across six maps, aiming to accumulate points and reach the Sky Champ point goal of 66 points.
  • Day 2 (May 18) – Sky Champ Rule: Once a team reaches 66 points, they must secure a Chicken Dinner to be crowned champions. If no team achieves this within eight maps, the team with the highest points will be declared the winner.

This unique format makes every match extremely crucial, as teams are not only focused on aggressively reaching the point threshold but also on strategically targeting opponents who are close to achieving it or have crossed it already.

The Skyesports Championship BGMI event schedule is as follows:

  • Upper Bracket: May 6–9 (16 teams – Top 8 advance to the Grand Finals, bottom 8 fall to the Last Chance Qualifier)
  • Last Chance Qualifier: May 10–12 (16 teams – 8 each from the Upper and Lower Brackets)
  • Grand Finals: May 17–18 (Top 8 teams from the LCQ join the 8 qualified from the Upper Bracket to compete for the title)

The entire tournament will be livestreamed on the official Skyesports YouTube channel. Stay tuned to the Skyesports Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook handles for more information regarding the on-ground finale.

The post Skyesports Championship BGMI Set for Sixth Edition Featuring INR 40 Lakhs Prize Pool, Grand Finals on May 17–18 in Bangalore appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Online Casino Legalization in Illinois: Study Finds Two-Thirds of Voters in Favor

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A recent survey has confirmed that almost two out of three (63%) of Illinois residents support legalizing online casinos.

The survey, created by casino bonus and online casino review site BonusFinder.com, asked 1,000 Illinois residents their take regarding legalizing online casinos. The focus group covered voters across a variety of political backgrounds, age groups, and different geos.

Despite online casinos currently being illegal in Illinois, and the only way to access them is illegally, the survey found that one in four residents (26%) admitted to having played at an online casino.

According to a separate analysis, which delved into how much US States could be missing out on in online casino tax revenue, it revealed that Illinois could be missing out on up to $788m. Instead of going to the State, this potential tax money is being funneled to unregulated offshore gambling platforms.

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When questioned, hypothetically, how residents would prefer the tax revenue to be spent they prioritized: public education (61.4%), mental health and addiction services (54.8%) and improvements in infrastructure (44%).

Other services that were still important, but less of a priority, to those questioned in the survey were: affordable housing (38%), crime prevention (33.1%), community programs (26.2%) and environmental initiatives (22.7%).

“These findings show that Illinoisans are ready for online casinos, as long as it’s done responsibly,” commented Luciano Passavanti, Vice President at BonusFinder.com.

“The message from voters is clear – they want safe, transparent platforms and strict oversight.

“They also want to know that tax revenue from online casinos will directly benefit their communities; whether that’s through education, healthcare, or local infrastructure.

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“Illinois is already a major gaming market. Legalizing online casinos is the next logical step.”

While the majority of voters were in favor (63%), 19% were against legalization and 17.5% remained unsure.

The largest age group supporters of legalizing online casinos was the 45-54 age group, with 68.8% being in favor. However, the age group whose least in favor of legalization remained to be those aged 65 and over – with 51.2% being in favor of legalizing online casinos in Illinois.

The second-largest age group in favor of legalizing iCasinos are those aged 35-44 (64.1%), the third-largest group stood to be those in the 18-34 age bracket with 63.7% of voters supporting legalization.

When it comes to the battle of the sexes, men were found to be significantly more open to the idea of legalization, with 70.5% of men in support. However, in comparison, just 58.3% of women were found to be in support of legalizing online casinos in the State.

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Furthermore, a variety of correspondents across different political views were also questioned; with findings revealing that Republican voters were slightly more in favor (65.4%) of legalization compared to Democrat voters (63.3%).

The post Online Casino Legalization in Illinois: Study Finds Two-Thirds of Voters in Favor appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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