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ASCI Signs MoU with FIFS, AIGF and EGF

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The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) and the E-Gaming Federation (EGF).

The MoU between ASCI and the online gaming industry federations establishes a framework to address these challenges through a special monitoring cell that will focus on screening and reporting offshore betting and gambling advertisements to the concerned ministries. The cell will also screen and process real-money gaming advertisements that are found to be in potential violation of the ASCI Code. The partnership aims to surface illegal ads and also strengthen compliance of the RMG industry.

Since the kickoff of the MoU in January 2025, ASCI has flagged 413 ads of offshore betting to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and processed 12 advertisements for potential violation of ASCI’s RMG guidelines. Previously, ASCI flagged off 1336 ads in the period April 2023–March 24, to the Ministry of I&B. Based on this, the Ministry has taken action to block such ads and platforms. During the same period, 492 cases pertaining to Real Money Gaming were also taken up by ASCI.

Indian state laws prohibit gambling and offshore betting activities; making advertisements for these activities, illegal in these states. However, online real-money games (RMG) that require a predominance of skill, are permitted by most state laws, and their advertising is therefore allowed. Some offshore betting and gambling operators attempt to portray themselves as legally permitted gaming companies, necessitating the need to identify such advertisements and escalate the same to regulators. For the real-money gaming sector, ASCI’s guidelines for “Advertising of Online Gaming for Real Money Winnings” needs advertisements to ensure that the content of such ads remains responsible and does not depict minors or represents winnings as a means of livelihood. In addition, these ads are required to carry disclaimers to inform consumers of the risks associated with such games.

Manisha Kapoor, CEO and Secretary General of ASCI, said: “Indian consumers are exposed to numerous ads of offshore betting and gambling companies that have no accountability in India. Several Indian celebrities too have been a part of such advertisements. Since gambling ads are prohibited in most parts of the country, their large-scale presence is a breach of the law. ASCI would like to surface such advertising to the regulators for necessary action. It is also key that the gaming industry, whose advertising is permissible in India, remains compliant with the ASCI Code. We welcome the proactive initiative of the gaming associations of working with the self-regulator to create a special monitoring cell for the industry.”

Neil Castelino, CEO of Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports, said: “Members of FIFS have demonstrated their commitment and compliance to responsible advertising through implementation of the ASCI guidelines and FIFS Charter. We are further committed to adopting the global best standards in responsible advertising, and through this collaboration, we hope that Indian consumers are not exposed to illegal platforms in the guise of online gaming while promoting responsible advertising practices amongst the Indian RMG industry.”

Anuraag Saxena, CEO of E-Gaming Federation, said: “Indian citizens have been duped and scammed by unscrupulous operators for years. The nation suffers, so do consumers, so does the domestic industry. Which is why we at EGF have been pioneering responsible gaming, and mandatory audits of our gaming companies. The monitoring cell of ASCI will only turbo-boost our efforts. Together, we will uphold high ethical standards and create a safer, more trusted gaming landscape for all.”

Roland Landers, CEO of All India Gaming Federations, said: “As the oldest and largest industry federation, AIGF has been at the forefront of advocating for responsible gaming practices and addressing the menace of offshore and illegal betting and gambling. We remain steadfast in our mission to ensure a robust, transparent, and responsible gaming environment in India. By collaborating with ASCI and fellow industry federations, we aim to tackle the growing challenge of offshore gambling ads and non-compliant advertising practices. This MoU marks a pivotal step towards protecting consumers, fostering ethical advertising, and elevating the credibility of India’s online gaming sector. Together, we are dedicated to shaping a fair and sustainable ecosystem for all stakeholders.”

The post ASCI Signs MoU with FIFS, AIGF and EGF appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Macau Government Extends Lottery Concession of Macau Slot Until 5 June 2026

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The Macau government has extended the lottery concession of Macau Slot Co Ltd for one year until 5 June 2026.

The concession renewal was published in the official gazette on Wednesday. Further extensions may be granted, subject to mutual agreement between the Macau government and Macau Slot.

As part of the renewal terms, Macau Slot is required to gradually reduce its number of non-resident employees and actively collaborate with the government to recruit and retain local talent.

Earlier this month, the government held a meeting with Macau Slot representatives to discuss the extension. According to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), the city’s industry regulator, Macau Slot committed to cutting 35% of its non-local, non-skilled workforce—equivalent to 26 positions—by the first quarter of 2026. The company also pledged to make further reductions to its foreign labour quota in the future. Currently, non-local staff account for 15% of the total workforce at Macau Slot.

“Over the past year, despite fluctuations in the macroeconomic environment and slower economic recovery in neighbouring regions, the local economy has remained relatively stable under the guidance of the Macau SAR government’s policies,” Macau Slot said in a statement.

“Looking ahead, we are committed to further diversifying our sports betting products to meet customer demand, while upgrading our information technology infrastructure to stay current and deliver more comprehensive sports betting services.”

The post Macau Government Extends Lottery Concession of Macau Slot Until 5 June 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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QTech Games strengthens its elite suite with Bigpot Gaming

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Emerging-markets leader expands its all-encompassing library with exciting new slots portfolio

QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for all emerging markets, has signed its latest provider partnership with Bigpot Gaming, enabling its platform customers to access the supplier’s innovative and multi-faceted slots catalogue.

Bigpot Gaming, an exciting challenger studio in the igaming arena, draws from a deep well of slot games – including titles such as Quests Of Olympus, Mega Sevens, Golden Kitty and Journey To The Abyss – which form an eclectic range of popular titles.

Bigpot Gaming specialises in developing high-quality online slot and table games which are RNG-certified and fully compliant with international regulatory standards. To underscore this commitment to fairness, Bigpot Gaming is certified by four recognised test laboratories in GLI, BMM, GA and iTech Labs.

The agreement also broadens Bigpot Gaming’s global scope, targeting emerging markets and creating new revenue streams. As the fastest-growing aggregator over the past few years, QTech’s platform offers the most expansive gaming portfolio around, localised for each region, retention and marketing tools, and 24/7 local-language support.

QTech Games CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “It’s another feather in our cap to have integrated more premium content, this time from Bigpot Gaming. We will continue to raise the bar and shape a localised experience for global players. And we can’t wait to witness how these games perform across a range of untapped markets which, in many cases, represent new territory for Bigpot Gaming.”

David Shon, Global Sales Executive at Bigpot Gaming, added: “Bigpot Gaming stands out as a fast-growing rookie studio for slots games and a real revenue-driver for digital casinos, always offering players a fresh yet familiar gaming experience.

“This collaboration marks another crucial step in our company’s worldwide growth strategy, and. Bigpot Gaming is targeting the finest content aggregators to improve our visibility and influence in the sector, and QTech Games sets the gold standard for emerging markets.”

The post QTech Games strengthens its elite suite with Bigpot Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Polemos Announces Partnership with Guinevere Capital

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Polemos, a Web3 gaming infrastructure platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Guinevere Capital, a prominent esports and gaming investment firm known for its investments and advisory roles in projects such as GiantX, iTero, Perion, Skybox and various other projects across the industry. Guinevere Capital has established a strong reputation for its work across global Web2 gaming titles, including League of Legends, Valorant, Rocket League and many more. This partnership aims to leverage the combined expertise of Polemos.io and Guinevere Capital to enhance and further monetise audiences across publishers, infrastructure players, gaming companies, studios and platforms.

The collaboration will focus on integrating advanced asset management and engagement tools from Polemos.io’s Forge platform with Guinevere Capital’s extensive network and experience in both Web2 and esports ecosystems. This will create new monetisation opportunities and improve player experiences by bridging traditional gaming with blockchain-enabled innovations.

Carl Wilgenbus, CEO of Polemos.io, said: “Partnering with Guinevere Capital marks a significant milestone in our mission to expand access to gaming rewards and unlock new revenue streams for the entire gaming industry. Together, we will empower publishers and studios to better engage their audiences and capitalize on the evolving landscape of gaming and esports.”

“Polemos has built an impressive piece of infrastructure that has plugged a huge gap in the gaming sector. We look forward to working with them to commercialise this,” said Dave Harris, a partner at Guinevere Capital.

Dave’s previous experience includes investing in and operating top teams and leagues in the Riot Games and Activision Blizzard ecosystems.

Guinevere Capital’s strategic involvement will accelerate the adoption of blockchain gaming infrastructure while supporting the growth of esports and gaming communities worldwide. This alliance underscores a shared vision to drive innovation, education and monetisation in the gaming sector by combining Web2’s reach with Web3’s potential.

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