

Asia
Esports Players League Aims for Accelerated Growth with Esports During the Lockdown, Enters into a Strategic Partnership with Paytm First Games
Esports Players League (ESPL), the new global esports tournament network and platform has entered into a strategic partnership with Paytm First Games, India’s leading gaming destination.
Paytm First Games is India’s fastest growing gaming destination and sees more than half a million daily active gamers on the platform, spending anywhere between 30 to 45 minutes per session. It has witnessed 200 percent growth in the last month, with over 75,000 new users joining the platform every day. Paytm First Games is the digital gaming platform of Gamepind Entertainment Private Limited, which is a joint venture between AGTech Holdings Limited and One97 Communications Limited, which is the parent company of India’s largest digital payments & financial services platform Paytm (valued at $17 billion).
With its strong position, Paytm First Games will introduce ESPL’s unique, mobile and online focussed tournaments to gaming enthusiasts in India. It will oversee the rollout of ESPL’s amateur esports platform in India and execute tournaments, acquire users, secure local sponsorship and partnership deals, and create local media content. ESPL will support Paytm First Games’ efforts by delivering the complete tech solution, global sponsorships, media deals, and winning esports strategy. The first ESPL season is scheduled from May to November 2020.
ESPL’s tournaments platform is largely online focussed and is expected to gain traction in the current global COVID-19 pandemic situation that has forced more than 1 billion people to stay at home due to the various movement restrictions imposed by governments.
“India has over 300 million gamers and will roll out 5G connectivity in 2020, making the country a key market for ESPL’s rapidly expanding network of amateur esports tournaments that create a bedroom-to-champion pathway for online gamers,” said ESPL CEO Michael Broda. “We can’t think of a better-positioned partner than Paytm for our expansion into the highly-desirable Indian mobile gaming market.”
Sudhanshu Gupta, COO – Paytm First Games said, “As malls, movie theatres and popular hangout options shut down temporarily in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, online gaming is picking up as a popular option for stay at home entertainment. E-sporting is fast expanding its gamer base in India. Our partnership with ESPL focuses on grass-root amateur leagues and the mobile esports space. This partnership will help us to launch the unique esports tournaments in India that will further expand the online gaming landscape in India.”
ESPL is a global esports tournament platform provider focused on creating mobile and online ecosystems for amateur esports leagues globally. Through ESPL’s national franchise model, up-and-coming esports talents can easily participate in global competitions. By facilitating grassroots participation in what is a rapidly expanding market, ESPL has direct access and exposure to a large, valuable and often overlooked segment of the esports industry.
Phase one of ESPL’s global roll-out has yielded franchise partnership agreements in Southeast Asia and Latin America. ESPL also entered its first media partnership with eGG Network, the largest esports TV network in Southeast Asia and Australia that reaches approximately 100 million TV viewers. ESPL will announce additional key international partnerships soon.
ESPL is co-founded by former eSports.com CEO Michael Broda, Kin Wai Lau, founder of iCandy Interactive Limited (ASX: ICI), and Datuk Azrin Bin Mohd Noor of behavioral data and technology firm Sedania Innovator Berhad. eSports.com is a leading global esports media company, and iCandy Interactive is a mobile game developer that serves a community of 350 million gamers.
Asia
Construction of Japan’s First Integrated Resort with a Casino Begins

Construction has officially begun on Japan’s first integrated resort with a casino, as MGM Osaka held its groundbreaking ceremony last week. The event, hosted by Osaka IR KK, the project’s promoter, was attended by Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and representatives of MGM Resorts International and Japan’s Orix Corporation, the lead partners behind the ¥1.27 trillion ($8.8 billion) development.
Located on the man-made island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay, MGM Osaka is scheduled to open in the autumn of 2030. The project marks a key milestone in Japan’s long-debated foray into legalised casino gaming. Once operational, it is expected to generate around $5.9 billion annually in gross gaming revenue.
MGM Osaka will feature a casino, three hotels with approximately 2500 rooms, and extensive convention and entertainment facilities, including a 3500-seat theater, 330,000 square feet of exhibition space and 400,000 square feet of conference areas. Dining and retail outlets are also part of the expansive master plan.
“In collaboration with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City, this project… is expected to contribute to the development of Japan’s tourism industry and the growth of the Kansai region,” a press statement reads.
The complex’s timeline coincides with the tail end of Expo 2025, also hosted on Yumeshima Island. To minimise disruption during the event, construction will be scaled down on peak days and the use of heavy machinery delayed until after the Expo concludes in October.
The resort will benefit from enhanced transportation access. A new Osaka Metro station opened in January to serve Expo 2025 and eventually MGM Osaka, while the Kintetsu Nara Line is being extended to further improve connectivity before the resort opens.
Financially, the project is backed by a ¥530 billion ($3.68 billion) debt financing package led by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., with investments from regional businesses in Osaka.
The post Construction of Japan’s First Integrated Resort with a Casino Begins appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Hero Esports Announces Venues for ACL Grand Finals 2025

Hero Esports, an industry leader and the largest esports company in Asia, has announced its championship venues for the Asian Champions League (ACL) Grand Finals 2025 taking place May 16-18 in Shanghai. The landmark event will transform three of the city’s most iconic venues into battlegrounds for nine premier esports titles, cementing Shanghai’s status as the global esports capital.
The tournament is expected to attract 80,000+ live attendees across three venues, with global broadcasts reaching millions via Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Participating teams will be competing for a total prize pool of $2 million. Selected ACL winners will earn direct entry to the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—the largest esports event in history due to take place from July to August.
“Shanghai’s selection as our host city reflects its unmatched esports infrastructure and passionate community. By combining elite competition with DreamHack’s festival energy, we’re creating a new blueprint for global esports events,” said Jonny Wang, CEO of ACL.
“This is Hero Esports’ most ambitious project to date. The ACL bridges Asian talents with the world stage while delivering unforgettable fan experiences through cutting-edge production,” said Danny Tang, Co-Founder & CEO of Hero Esports.
The post Hero Esports Announces Venues for ACL Grand Finals 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
LEADING SCORES APP LIVESCORE EYES ASIA GROWTH WITH EXPANDED BRAND PRESENCE IN THAILAND

LiveScore, home to the world’s leading app for sports scores, announces it is expanding its brand activation and presence in Thailand. This development marks a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to localising its services and engaging with football fans across Asia.
This strategic move highlights LiveScore’s commitment to expanding its presence in the region, beginning with Thailand and Indonesia. LiveScore has experienced substantial growth in Asia Pacific, with Thailand and Indonesia specifically representing a significant portion of LiveScore’s 7.6m users in Asia in 2024.
In line with this expansion, LiveScore has partnered with local agency, Holarchy, to enhance brand awareness and activation in the region. This step is crucial to the overall strategy aimed at engaging fans and brand partners throughout Asia. With the World Cup nearing, this expansion allows LiveScore to connect with dedicated football fans as it seeks to establish itself as the leading platform for football fans, and paves the way for exciting collaborations with regional brands.
This expansion showcases LiveScore’s ongoing commitment to Fuelling Fans’ Passion for Sport, providing localised content, live scores, and news that resonates with fans on a personal level.
To further cement its commitment to local audiences, LiveScore has launched its official Thai social media account, @livescore.th. LiveScore’s Thai-specific account will feature localised content from the global LiveScore account, complimented with content specifically crafted for Thai fans, making it easier than ever for fans to stay engaged with their favourite sports.
Beyond social, fans can look forward to a series of LiveScore events such as watch parties, with all activations designed to bring more fans closer to the games they love.
Dominic Vye, Marketing Director, LiveScore, said: “Sports, especially football, hold immense popularity across Asia. We’ve chosen Thailand as the first country for our Asia expansion because of the undeniable passion of Thai fans. From their vibrant love for food to their pride in national teams and unwavering enthusiasm for the Premier League, Thai fans stand out. With LiveScore already enjoying a strong following and a loyal user base, this expansion marks an incredibly exciting step forward for both us and the fans.”
“LiveScore has always been driven by our mission to Fuel Fans’ Passion for Sport, and the incredible passion of Asian football fans only motivates our commitment to building a personal connection with fans in every market. We’re witnessing a phenomenal growth as fans from all over the world engage with us more than ever, especially as excitement builds towards the World Cup in 2026, and we’re proud to provide them with real-time updates and content that is tailored to their interests and needs.
“This is just the beginning, and we’re looking forward to working with more like-minded brands committed to building meaningful connections with football fans across Asia.”
The post LEADING SCORES APP LIVESCORE EYES ASIA GROWTH WITH EXPANDED BRAND PRESENCE IN THAILAND appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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