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Indian Esports stakeholders reflect on historic year for video-gaming industry; share outlook for upcoming year

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A groundbreaking year for Indian Esports, marked by participation in the Asian Games 2022, witnessed global triumphs, mainstream recognition, and brand investments, laying the foundations for a successful 2024

The year 2023 has been defined by a multitude of key events and accomplishments for Indian Esports. The ‘Leveling up: State of India Gaming FY’23’ report by Lumikai in collaboration with Google states that India was home to 568 Mn gamers in FY23. The country’s gaming market hit $3.1 Bn in FY23 and is projected to reach $7.5 Bn by FY28, growing at a CAGR of 20%.

The Indian contingent’s participation in the Asian Games 2022, where Esports debuted as an official medal sport, and the remarkable fifth-place finish secured by the League of Legends team emerged as the year’s crowning achievement that showcased the nation’s Esports prowess on the international stage. S8UL, India’s premier Esports organization, added to this triumph by winning the first-ever ‘Global Impact on Mobile Gaming’ at the MOBIES Awards as well as the ‘Content Creator of the Year’ award at the global Esports Awards 2023.

Mr. Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Founder and CEO of 8Bit Creatives and S8UL, reflected on these milestones, stating, “The recognition on the global stage including our country’s talented contingent competing at the Asian Games 2022 and S8UL achieving unprecedented success elevated the industry’s status. The stigma surrounding gaming as a career choice has dissipated, opening new opportunities for aspiring gamers and legitimizing Esports as a viable and respected profession.”

The year also witnessed a transformative influx of brands into the Esports ecosystem, with notable examples such as IQOO SOUL’s historic title sponsorship with Team SOUL. Mr. Animesh Agarwal highlighted the significance, saying, “The increasing involvement of non-endemic brands, their entry into the gaming space, and the rise of official tournaments have reshaped the industry’s landscape. IQOO SOUL’s title sponsorship with IQOO highlights the expanding horizons of Esports sponsorships with brands across all domains. The influx of non-endemic brands brings both financial support and broader visibility to gaming creators, organizations, tournaments, and other Esports events.”

The amendments made to the Information and Technology (IT) Act by the Indian government played a pivotal role in distinguishing Esports from real money gaming (RMG). This recognition provided legitimacy to the sector, leading to increased sponsorships and investments.

States like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh have also taken proactive steps, with initiatives such as the country’s first esports academy and tournaments. Educational institutions have also embraced Esports with the inclusion of Esports in the curriculum.

Sharing his thoughts on these developments, Mr. Lokesh Suji, Director of Esports Federation of India (ESFI) and Vice-President of Asian Esports Federation (AESF) commented,The future of Esports is exceptionally bright in India. Through the consistent efforts of ESFI, the Indian government officially recognized Esports as a multi-sport event and categorized it under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in December 2022. Beyond official recognition, infrastructure development is a critical factor for the sustained growth of the Esports industry. The initiatives by our government and numerous states have laid the groundwork for potential financial backing and infrastructure growth in the coming years. Esports now proudly stands alongside the traditional sports of the country, attracting more players and sponsors to the industry.”

After its temporary hiatus, the triumphant return of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) this year was an instrumental factor for the Indian Esports industry. Emphasizing the resilience and growth, Mr. Rohit Agarwal, Founder & Director, Alpha Zegus noted, “Content solutions have been our top priority in 2023, and it has been an incredible year for us. Titles like BGMI had a comeback that boosted the Esports industry by more than 4x factor, while publishers like RIOT took serious efforts and made massive investments into the Indian gaming space. In numbers, we generated more than 400 pieces of quality content for our partners and saw a 300% growth in content solutions as compared to 2022. In 2024, our efforts are going to continue towards content solutions and experiential marketing, expanding our base to different regions, and bringing more quality to our work.”

As Esports continues its ascent as a global phenomenon, the inaugural Esports World Cup 2024 and the entry of streaming giants like Netflix and YouTube into gaming signal a revolutionary shift for Indian esports in the upcoming year. The convergence of these factors coupled with other trends promises a dynamic and transformative year ahead.

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

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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.

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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

  • 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.

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DSTGAMING Shortlisted in Two Categories at SIGMA Asia Awards 2025

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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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