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Niko Partners 2022 Asia Video Game Industry Predictions

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1. MENA-3 games market revenue will surpass $2 billion in 2022

Niko Partners initiated coverage on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt for the first time in 2022. We call this region MENA-3 in our reports and expect combined games revenue across all platforms to surpass $2 billion this year. Growth will be driven by higher spending per user, additional government support across games and esports, and more gamers entering the market.

2. India will have over 400 million gamers in 2022 

We predict India will surpass 400 million gamers this year, accounting for over ¼ of total gamers in Asia. We also believe that India, the fastest growing market in Asia, will be the next market to reach $1 billion. Niko Partners has often talked about how the ITV markets, referring to Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, would be the next billion-dollar games markets. These three markets have surpassed $1 billion individually over the past two years.

3. Game approvals in China will restart in early 2022 

China’s video game regulator has not approved any new titles since July 22, 2021. There were only 755 titles approved in 2021, compared to 1,411 in 2020. With the roll out of the national anti-addiction and real name identification system now complete, we expect approvals to restart in early 2022.

4. China’s regulatory approach will shift from reform to enforcement

China’s video game regulator introduced new policies in 2021, primarily aimed at curbing gaming addiction among minors. We expect the regulator to shift away from policy reform in 2022, as it looks to ensure compliance with current regulations. We are already starting to see a crackdown on companies that are curbing regulations and we have upgraded the risk of a Steam International ban in China to high.

5. Game companies in China will increase focus on exports 

Chinese game companies have dominated their home market and found success overseas with mobile games. With increased investment in AAA game development, local indie studios and the ongoing regulatory risk at home, we expect Chinese game companies to start finding success on all platforms overseas in 2022 and beyond.

6. Esports will become more legitimate in 2022

In 2017 the International Olympic Committee recognized esports as a sport, in 2018 esports was a demonstration event at the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia and in 2022 Esports will be a medal event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. This will lead to more investment in esports player pipelines and player development. 2022 will enjoy an increase in esports training, education, subsidies aimed at esports management, player development.

7. Cross Platform and Cross Play will be a staple of new titles in 2022

The success of multi-platform titles such as Genshin Impact, the widespread adoption of scalable game engines such as Unreal Engine and Unity as well as the demand for interoperability between devices has led to players valuing cross platform experiences with cross play. We expect some of the largest game studios in China, South Korea, and Japan to introduce titles that run across PC, Console, Mobile and Cloud with cross play enabled.

8. 5G will be available across all 14 markets we cover in 2022 

5G has been rolling out across numerous markets in Asia since South Korea launched 5G services in April 2019. This has led to increased download speeds, lower latency and helped enable cloud gaming on the go. Malaysia, Vietnam, India and Egypt are the four markets we cover that have yet to roll out 5G. We expect them to start their roll out by the end of the year.

9. M&A / Investments / IPOs will continue to play an important role  

2021 was a record year for game related investments, especially in China where the number of transactions doubled compared to the prior year. Tencent alone invested in or acquired more than 100 game related companies last year. We expect M&A / Investments to continue playing a notable role in 2022 and beyond as the value of IP, development talent and new technologies become more important. While there may be a lower number of deals closed in 2022, we believe the overall value will continue to remain high.

10. Gaming companies will capitalize on the metaverse trend better than tech companies, but it’s still too early for the concept

Metaverse became a hot word in 2021 with numerous tech and gaming companies embracing the concept. Niko Partners believes that live service video games have been building towards the metaverse concept for several years and that companies with experience in both video game development and social media platform operation will have an advantage when entering this space. We expect game focused companies to see the initial benefits of the metaverse trend while tech first companies will struggle to offer value to users. However, we don’t expect to see a true metaverse experience in 2022 based on the currently accepted definitions.

11. The convergence of video games and the entertainment industry further engages gamers 

The video game industry is building on the concepts of metaverse, pan-entertainment and transmedia which is leading to a convergence between games and entertainment. We expect to see more traditional brands, entertainment properties and artists take advantage of live service games in 2022. On the flip side, we expect to see more collaboration between video game IP holders and traditional entertainment such as movies, TV, and comics. This bi-directional approach will further engage gamers in the future.

12. Blockchain game adoption increases, but the space remains experimental 

Blockchain based games made headlines in 2021 and VCs have invested billions in them. The past year has seen the rise of blockchain based non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in games and the exploration of the Play to Earn (P2E) model. We expect to see new innovative game projects in 2022 and increased adoption of blockchain games. However, the numerous barriers to entry, lack of regulation and questions around sustainability will keep the space experimental in 2022.

13. The local game development scene will grow in developing markets 

Of the 14 markets we cover, Japan, South Korea, and China are considered game development powerhouses due to the hit titles released by domestic developers. The success of Vietnamese studio Sky Mavis (publisher of Axie Infinity) and a 2x increase in local game development studios in India since 2019 shows there is growing talent in these emerging markets. We expect to see the release of a hit game ($100m+ revenue) released by a studio from Southeast Asia or India in 2022.

14. The conversation regarding app store take rates will extend into 2022

The Epic v Apple case made headlines in 2021 and it indirectly led to Apple and Google reducing take rates for developers that earn less than $1m per year. In South Korea, a new bill required Apple and Google to offer alternative in app payment options. In China, TapTap made headlines for offering a 0% take rate and numerous developers have invested in direct distribution to avoid app store fees. As pressure continues to build, we expect platform holders to make further concessions in 2022.

15. Increasing government support towards local game development across SEA

In 2021, governments became increasingly supportive of the video game sector. Vietnam’s government took an active role in the creation of Vietnam Online Game Developers and Publishers Alliance (which will be formally established in 2022), Indonesia’s government showed support towards local game developers through fundings and infrastructure support, and Malaysia’s government continue to allocate specific national budget for gaming and esports. We anticipate more of this in 2022.

16. Korea and Japan to continue deregulation of the gaming and esports industry

Following Korea’s abolishment of the 10-year-old Shutdown Law and looking at Japan’s increasing interest in esports, we expect that both countries will continue to ease regulations or even move towards deregulation of certain laws or ordinances that hamper the growth of the gaming and esports industry. While an overhaul of the regulatory environment might not be feasible, small changes will be possible to occur in 2022.

Check our 2021 predictions accuracy here. All our predictions came true, except for #7 as a freeze on game approvals in China led to a lower number of import games being approved in 2021 vs 2020.

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Karnataka Govt to Introduce New Law to Regulate Online Betting and Gaming

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The Karnataka government has announced that it will introduce a new law to regulate online betting and gaming.

Home Minister G Parameshwara said a committee of senior officials and industry representatives has been constituted and it has been given a month’s time to submit a draft of the proposed bill.

“I chaired a meeting regarding online betting and gambling yesterday along with the IT Minister. Representatives from the industry were called. There is nothing to regulate them so far. They have agreed to the introduction of a licence system and a regulation as per law,” he said.

The state government held a high-level meeting to discuss a legal framework for regulating online gaming.

IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said that the intent of the legislation is to curb online gambling, betting and games of chance, and protect consumers from fraud while supporting innovation and the sustainable growth of the skill-based gaming industry.

Karnataka is set to introduce a legal framework to ban gambling while permitting skill-based games following a model similar to that of Chhattisgarh.

Kharge said he held a detailed meeting with the state home minister, senior government officials, members of online gaming federations, and industry experts to discuss the proposed framework.

“The legitimate online skill-based gaming industry in India is a sunrise sector worth USD 4 billion, contributing Rs 12,000 crore in taxes and creating over 1.5 lakh jobs. Karnataka alone accounts for 25 percent of the market and contributes Rs 1350 crore annually in taxes, making it a key hub,” he said.

The minister also raised concerns over the growing underground market of offshore gambling and illegal betting.

“Alongside the legitimate sector, there is a parallel underground market that is expanding rapidly, posing risks such as predatory money collection practices, dubious shell companies, financial fraud, data breaches, and cybercrimes,” he said.

Kharge also held discussions with representatives of the E-Gaming Federation (EGF), the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) regarding their collaborative “Code of Ethics” for the industry.

The post Karnataka Govt to Introduce New Law to Regulate Online Betting and Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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The Indian iGaming Opportunity Report: Insights for Sports Betting, Casino, Payments, and More

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GR8 Tech, the award-winning high-performance Sportsbook and iGaming platform, in partnership with iGB, offers a deep dive into the real opportunities—and real challenges—of India’s iGaming market.

With 1.4 billion people, 954 million internet users, and 448 million interested in gaming, India offers massive potential. But it’s not a market where global strategies can simply be copied and pasted. Success here demands a profound understanding of local player behavior, payment preferences, mobile-first user experience, and cricket’s dominance—insights all explored in GR8 Tech’s “2025 India Report: How to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Produced with the involvement of both local independent market experts and GR8 Tech professionals, the report examines everything from player behavior regarding sports betting and casinos to regulatory and taxation nuances. Some notable insights include:

  • Cricket Dominance: The IPL attracts more betting activity than any match involving the national team. Cricket accounts for a massive share of sports betting in India, with 20 players betting on cricket for every 2 on football and 1 on kabaddi.
  • Mobile-first audience: With 77% of online traffic coming from mobile devices, operators must optimize for mobile-first experiences to effectively engage players.
  • Live casino & slots lead revenue: While live casino games drive the most revenue (56.4%), slots make up 47.5% of the total volume of bets. Instant games like Aviator and JetX are gaining ground, with Aviator alone accounting for 21% of one operator’s GGR.
  • Skill-based games on the rise: Indian players are moving beyond luck-based games to more interactive, skill-based experiences. Games like Teen Patti, Andar Bahar, and crash games appeal to players looking for an active, strategic role in gameplay.
  • Fantasy Sports Boom: Fantasy sports, particularly fantasy cricket, are on the rise and are expected to generate ₹388 billion in revenue by 2026.
  • Localized Payment Preferences: Over 90% of deposits are made via the Unified Payments Interface, making it the dominant payment method for Indian players.

India’s iGaming market is incredibly complex and offers immense opportunities, and we cannot underestimate the value of local expertise for understanding it. This report is grounded in insights from people who live the dynamics daily and have immense experience to share. It is not about shortcuts or immediate wins, but about building a realistic, informed perspective so that when the moment comes, you are ready to act with clarity and purpose,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech.

With a mobile-first audience, a deep cultural connection to cricket, and rising demand for interactive, skill-based games, success in India requires local insight. From understanding player behavior to optimizing payments and product mix, the opportunity is real—but so is the need to get it right.

To help you navigate, GR8 Tech is sharing “India Report: How to Take Advantage of the Opportunity”—an essential guide to thriving in one of the world’s most promising markets.

Download the full report now and get ahead in India’s iGaming evolution.

 

About GR8 Tech

GR8 Tech is a high-performance Sportsbook and iGaming platform provider.

GR8 Tech’s core strengths lie in its robust technology and focus on a personalized approach based on business needs, geographic focus, or operational verticals. From comprehensive offerings like Hyper Turnkey to specialized solutions such as the Sportsbook iFrame, Infinite Casino Aggregation, or Platform Acceler8 set, GR8 Tech provides UNbeatable flexibility and performance to drive operators’ growth and success.

Trusted by top operators worldwide, GR8 Tech has over 45 successful cases and earned multiple recognitions for its high-performance sportsbook-driven platform, including accolades from the SiGMA Awards, International Investor Awards, and GamingTECH Awards.

The post The Indian iGaming Opportunity Report: Insights for Sports Betting, Casino, Payments, and More appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Thailand Postpones Parliamentary Debate on Casino Bill

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A parliamentary debate on Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill that had been planned to take place on Wednesday has been postponed until the next session amid rising anti-casino sentiment and concerns the bill is being rushed through.

Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed that the government would instead focus in the meantime on more pressing matters such as the aftermath of the recent earthquake and how to deal with the impact of the US tariffs.

Passage of the Entertainment Complex Bill has been coming under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks with anti-gambling advocates stating protests and a group of senators voicing their opposition to the speed with which the bill was seemingly making its way through parliament.

That’s despite the addition of a clause requiring locals to hold at least THB50 million (US$1.5 million) in their bank accounts to gain entry to Thailand’s legal casinos – a clause experts say would essentially force international operators to ditch their Thailand casino bids.

The post Thailand Postpones Parliamentary Debate on Casino Bill appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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