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Experts Say Karnataka’s Proposed Online Gaming Ban is a Setback to Gaming Industry

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A few weeks ago, the Karnataka State proposed a ban on online games involving betting and wagering, emphasising on “any act or risking money, or otherwise on the unknown result of an event including a game of skill”.

The state government said the bill will help keep youth from rural areas from being idle in cities and towns as they tend to become habitual gamblers.

Karnataka’s move to ban games involving skills could prove detrimental to the revenues of large gaming platforms such as Dream11. This is in contrast to existing gambling laws in India, such as the ones in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, that are dependent on chance, Puneet Bhasin, a Mumbai-based lawyer, said.

India categorises games into two main parts — games of skill and games of chance. While games of skill require players to possess analytical and decision-making capabilities, games of chance are based purely on luck.

Games like Dream11 and Mobile Premier League (MPL) offer skill-based games, where players use relevant data like career statistics, career form, strengths and weaknesses to choose sportspersons to include in their “fantasy team”, according to Tanmay Singh, litigation counsel at Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF).

Shivani Jha, Director of eSports Players Welfare Association, added that players are not risking money to win an uncertain event while playing skill-based games. “They are paying registration fees for an event with a controlled outcome because skill in involved. This must not be confused with wagering,” Jha added.

Karnataka is home to 91 gaming firms that collectively employ about 4000 people, according to data from Startup Business Academy.

“The move to pass the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Compliance Act, 2021 act a setback to the online skill gaming sunrise industry as well as to the state’s reputation of being a tech-hub and start-up capital,” Roland Landers, CEO of All India Gaming Federation, said.

“There is the clear distinction that needs to be drawn between games of skill such as bridge, eSports and games of chance.”

According to Landers, expanding the ban to the legitimate industry that has created many unicorns and is going to be a significant contributor to the Indian economy is not justified.

Singh noted the move represents an “impermissible expansion of the law” that encroaches upon fundamental freedoms and violates the constitutional rights of the residents of the state.

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Macau Govt Appoints Ng Wai Han as Director of DICJ

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The Macau Government has appointed Ng Wai Han, who was serving as Director of the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP), as Director of the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).

Ng had served as head of the Public Administration Bureau since September 2023, following a three-year stint as Deputy Director.

Between 1999 and 2020, Ng rose through the ranks of the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) to the position of Deputy Director.

With this appointment, the reshuffling of DICJ’s leadership team is now complete. The position of Director had remained vacant since 20 December last year, when her predecessor, Adriano Marques Ho, became Director General of the Macau Customs. Deputy Director Lio Chi Chong had been serving as Acting Director in the interim.

Lei Seak Chio, who, like Ng, previously worked at DSAL, was appointed one of DICJ’s Deputy Directors in February, replacing Peter Chui.

The post Macau Govt Appoints Ng Wai Han as Director of DICJ appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Nazara’s subsidiary Absolute Sports acquires TJRWrestling.net and ITRWrestling.com

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Absolute Sports, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies and the parent company of Sportskeeda.com, announced today that it has signed definitive agreements, subject to closing conditions, to acquire two IPs, TJRWrestling.net and ITRWrestling.com. These business assets will be acquired from Titan Insider Digital. These IPs add to the already dominant global position of Absolute Sports in the combat sports publishing industry.

TJRWrestling and ITRWrestling established in 2009 and 2020 respectively, have built a robust audience base within the wrestling fan community through their high-quality and in-depth combat sports news and content coverage. Together, they currently attract 1.7 million monthly active users and generate 4.6 million monthly pageviews, predominantly from North America. They generated $722K (~INR 6.1 crore) in revenue in 2024.

The transaction, valued at $1.25 million (~INR 10.5 crore), will be an all-cash asset purchase via the company’s U.S. subsidiary, Sportskeeda Inc., and is expected to close within the next 45 days.

This strategic acquisition bolsters Sportskeeda’s position in the combat sports segment and expands its presence in the U.S., home to the world’s largest pro-wrestling fanbase. The integration of these platforms will also create deeper engagement opportunities for fans and advertisers across digital formats.

Ajay Pratap Singh, CEO of Absolute Sports, commented: “ITRWrestling and TJRwrestling are two of the most respected voices in the global wrestling community. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our vision to be the leading go-to destination for wrestling content worldwide. It also reinforces Absolute Sports’ dedication to expanding its footprint in the fast-growing U.S. media market through a targeted and impactful M&A strategy.”

The post Nazara’s subsidiary Absolute Sports acquires TJRWrestling.net and ITRWrestling.com appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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BMM INNOVATION GROUP REINFORCES ASIA-PACIFIC LEADERSHIP AT G2E ASIA MAY 7-9, CONTINUING TO DRIVE GROWTH THROUGH TRUSTED PRODUCT COMPLIANCE AND DIGITAL GAMING SERVICES

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Company’s focus is on leading, protecting, and powering the future of gaming in the world’s fastest-growing gambling market

BMM Innovation Group, a technology conglomerate focused on land-based and online gaming product compliance testing, cybersecurity solutions, and virtual training for the global gaming industry, today announced its support and participation in G2E Asia May 7-9 at The Venetian Macao.

With a legacy spanning over four decades serving the Asia-Pacific region, the BIG Group continues to lead the region’s land-based and online gaming product compliance market, supporting the growth and integrity of the region’s regulated gaming markets.

Through its core business BMM Testlabs, BIG delivers industry-leading certification testing, quality assurance testing, compliance consultation, mathematical analysis, inspection, and training services. Its long-standing relationships with regulators, suppliers, and operators across Asia-Pacific have solidified its reputation as the most experienced and trusted product compliance partner in the market.

BMM is also meeting the market’s increasing demand for online gaming services with product transfers internationally to markets including Europe, North America, and now Brazil. BMM’s services include certification and QA testing for iGaming platforms, sports betting platforms, mobile and web-based gaming applications, RNG evaluations, and security assessment tailored to regulated online environments.

BMM’s President, Land-Based Gaming & Inspections Kirk White said, “Asia-Pacific is one of our most important markets, and we remain deeply committed to supporting its growth. Our legacy here is built on integrity, innovation, and performance — values that continue to drive everything we do today.”

The Company has offices and test labs throughout the region in Macau, Singapore, and Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, with additional offices positioned strategically around the world for global market coverage.

BMM’s regional leadership team will be at the show to connect with customers, regulators, and partners to discuss the market’s evolving needs and how BIG is positioned to help the fast-growing market continue to thrive through integrity, regulation, and innovation.

The post BMM INNOVATION GROUP REINFORCES ASIA-PACIFIC LEADERSHIP AT G2E ASIA MAY 7-9, CONTINUING TO DRIVE GROWTH THROUGH TRUSTED PRODUCT COMPLIANCE AND DIGITAL GAMING SERVICES appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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