

Asia
Dimitar Berbatov unveiled as RB88 brand ambassador
Bulgarian footballing legend steps up in new role for innovative sportsbook and casino operator
Leading Asian operator RB88 has announced that footballing legend Dimitar Berbatov is to become its new brand ambassador, having signed a two-year deal with the brand. RB88, one of the most recognizable and respected online sportsbooks and casinos in Asia, is breaking new ground by recruiting Berbatov as its first flagship spokesman in a newly signed contract that will continue until the end of 2022.
Often regarded as one of the greatest Bulgarian footballers of all time, Berbatov’s enduring class and flair are seen as perfectly-aligned values for an ambassador who complements RB88’s innovative reputation. Indeed, having played with some of the world’s most renowned football teams – such as Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Manchester United to name but a few – Berbatov needs no introduction to global football fans or sports-mad audiences.
In addition to an outstanding career at an array of top football clubs, Berbatov also served as captain of the Bulgarian national team. There, he maintained a consistently high bar for performance and leadership which saw him selected as the Bulgarian Player of the Year three times in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
A representative for RB88 addressed the brand’s first ambassador: “We’re thrilled to welcome Dimitar Berbatov to the RB88 family. RB88 plans to leverage this breakthrough international ambassadorial partnership to drive awareness and engagement around our progressive brand values across both established and emerging Asian markets.
“We can’t wait to get started working in close collaboration with Dimitar who will help us create some unique and exciting new content for our customers. We look forward to sharing his views and insights with engaged audiences in a two-year contract which highlights RB88’s dedication to first-class sport. Dimitar is a perfect fit for the energy and expertise that RB88 is harnessing across varied local markets.”
As Bulgaria’s all-time leading goalscorer, Berbatov is no stranger to success and was quick to share his excitement at this new association. Berbatov added: “I am proud to be representing RB88 across China and Thailand, a brand which shares my sporting passions and commitment to excellence and creativity. With their team, I look forward to bringing some high-quality support and entertainment to Asian markets.
“It’s a new challenge for me, but I plan to embrace it with my signature style and enthusiasm, helping fans to find new and deeper ways in which to enjoy and engage with the sports they love. Teaming up with RB88 was an easy decision for me.”
While RB88 continues to develop its online offerings for football fans around the world, this latest milestone underscores its commitment to international representation and fostering a football-friendly atmosphere within a responsible gaming culture.
RB88 provides one of the widest offerings of markets and odds for the sports bettor. With customer satisfaction and entertainment at its heart, it provides an innovative and holistic experience via the latest technology and games, alongside impeccable and personalised customer service.
Asia
ED Arrests Karnataka MLA Veerendra “Puppy” in Illegal Betting Case

The Indian Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into Karnataka Congress MLA K.C. Veerendra, also known as “Puppy,” over alleged involvement in a large-scale money laundering and illegal betting operation. The legislator, arrested in Sikkim on Saturday, August 23, was brought to Bengaluru on Sunday for further questioning in connection with financial transactions tied to casinos in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Georgia.
Veerendra was apprehended in Gangtok, where he had reportedly been pursuing a deal to lease land for a casino venture. After his arrest, he was produced before a special court in Bengaluru, which granted ED custody until August 28. To prevent any incidents during his transfer, strict security was enforced at Kempegowda International Airport, and he was quickly escorted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.
Authorities confirmed that multi-state raids preceded the arrest, covering 31 locations across India, including Bengaluru, Hubballi, Chitradurga, Goa, Jodhpur, Mumbai and Sikkim. Five casinos in Goa—Puppy’s Casino Gold, Ocean Rivers Casino, Puppy’s Casino Pride, Ocean 7 Casino, and Big Daddy Casino—were also raided as part of the ongoing probe.
According to ED sources, preliminary findings suggest that Veerendra maintained financial links with casinos and shell companies operating in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Georgia. Evidence gathered during the raids points to overseas transactions and the use of foreign entities to launder large sums of money, some of which may have originated from cyber fraud. Officials suspect that these funds were “converted into white money” by being disguised as credit card transactions.
Documents recovered from multiple properties also revealed that Veerendra was in the process of finalising a deal to acquire a casino from Santiago Martin, a businessman widely recognised as the “lottery king” of Tamil Nadu. Martin is already under investigation by the ED in a separate money laundering case and is known for his financial ties to political figures.
Incriminating evidence seized from Veerendra’s residences, including Rs 12 crore in cash and a significant quantity of jewelry, is now being analysed. The ED has also uncovered records suggesting that his brother, K.C. Thippeswamy, managed three Dubai-based entities—Diamond Softech, TRS Technologies and Prime9Technologies—believed to be connected to their gaming and call centre businesses.
The post ED Arrests Karnataka MLA Veerendra “Puppy” in Illegal Betting Case appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
India Bans Real-Money Gaming

India’s lower house of parliament has passed a sweeping online gaming bill that, while promoting esports and casual gaming without monetary stakes, imposes a blanket ban on real-money games — threatening to disrupt billions of dollars in investment and significantly impact the real-money gaming industry, which could see widespread shutdowns.
Titled the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, the legislation aims to prohibit real-money games nationwide — whether based on skill or chance — and ban both their advertisement and associated financial transactions.
“In this bill, priority has been given to the welfare of society and to avoid a big evil that is creeping into society,” India’s IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Parliament while introducing the bill.
The proposed legislation restricts banks and other financial institutions from allowing transactions for real-money games in the country. Anyone offering these games could face imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to ₹10 million (approximately $115,000), or both. Additionally, celebrities promoting such games on any media platform could be liable for up to two years of imprisonment or a fine of ₹5 million (roughly $57000), the bill states.
Vaishnaw said the decision to bring the legislation was to address several incidents of harm, including cases where individuals reportedly died by suicide after losing money in games. However, industry stakeholders largely attribute these incidents to offshore betting and gambling apps, which many believe will not be addressed by this legislation.
“This law is bound to face litigation as it fails the test of proportionality under Article 19(1)(g). Instead of safeguarding consumers, it dismantles compliant onshore companies while opening the door wider for illegal offshore betting platforms that are the real source of financial harm,” said Meghna Bal, director of the New Delhi-based think tank Esya Centre.
Article 19(1)(g) of India’s Constitution guarantees citizens the right to practice any profession or carry on any occupation, trade or business.
Ahead of the bill’s introduction in the Indian Parliament, industry bodies wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene. The letter — sent by the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports, All India Gaming Federation and E-Gaming Federation warned that the proposed legislation could benefit “illegal offshore gambling operations” while forcing Indian businesses to shut down. These industry bodies represent Dream Sports, MPL, WinZO, Gameskraft, Nazara Technologies and Zupee, among other real-money gaming companies.
“By shutting down regulated and responsible Indian platforms, it will drive [millions] of players into the hands of illegal matka networks, offshore gambling websites, and fly-by-night operators who operate without any safeguards, consumer protections, or taxation,” the letter stated. (Matka is a form of illegal gambling that originated in India, involving betting on random numbers.)
The three industry bodies estimated that real-money gaming startups in India have a combined enterprise valuation of ₹2 trillion (approximately $23 billion), generate cumulative revenues of ₹310 billion (around $3.6 billion), and contribute ₹200 billion (roughly $2.29 billion) annually in direct and indirect taxes. They also project a 28% compound annual growth rate that would double the industry’s size by 2028. The industry groups warned that the blanket ban could result in the loss of more than 200,000 jobs and the closure of over 400 companies.
A similar letter was also written to Indian Home Minister Amit Shah by these three industry associations.
The bill was passed by voice vote in a noisy lower house less than seven minutes after it was introduced for debate. It now requires approval from the upper house and the president to become law.
Meanwhile, some companies in casual gaming and esports have welcomed the move.
“We applaud this decision as it allows us to focus on the ongoing concerns as a business — monetization, retention, and most importantly, building great IP for India and the world, rather than having to explain to our audiences what we are to begin with,” said Sumit Batheja, CEO and co-founder of Ginger Games, which is part of Krafton’s Indian gaming incubator and makes hyper casual games.
Krafton is the South Korean gaming company behind the popular battle royale game PUBG.
In 2023, the Indian government amended the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, to curb “user harm” from real-money games and proposed self-regulatory bodies to limit illegal betting and gambling while allowing legitimate games. However, the self-regulation approach faltered due to conflicts among industry stakeholders over enforcement and standards.
New Delhi imposed a 28% tax on online gaming in 2023 to curb real-money play, prompting an outcry from industry stakeholders. Top investors — including Tiger Global, Peak XV Partners and Kotak — urged Modi to reconsider, warning of $2.5 billion in write-offs and the potential loss of one million jobs. The tax, however, remained in place, even as companies challenged its retrospective application in the Supreme Court. Recent reports suggest it may be revised upward to 40% under new rules.
The post India Bans Real-Money Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Indonesia Prepares VPN Laws to Crack Down on Illegal Online Gambling

Indonesia is preparing to introduce new rules targeting the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), to crack down on the broader access to illegal online gambling. The move signifies a stronger push by authorities to tighten internet oversight amid growing concerns over unregulated digital activity.
While officials have not really explicitly mentioned gambling platforms, the intention seems to be clear. The aim of the move is to restrict tools that allow Indonesians to bypass government firewalls and access banned content. As the country battles a surge in illegal online gambling, VPNs have become a major target in the regulatory issue.
Indonesia currently ranks as the third-highest user of VPN services worldwide, behind only the UAE and India. A 2024 report by Windscribe, a global VPN provider, found that roughly 41% of Indonesian internet users use VPNs. This tool is largely used to bypass state-enacted censorship and access geo-blocked websites.
Online gambling, is strictly banned under Indonesian law, but is still thriving via VPN-enabled access to international platforms. These tools allow users to hide their digital footprints, and makes it challenging for authorities to enforce law.
“VPNs are being misused to reach sites and apps that are clearly illegal. We are developing a framework to ensure their usage aligns with the law,” said Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan, Director General of Informatics Applications at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, in a recent statement.
The upcoming regulations, which are currently under ministerial review, aim to restrict VPN use by requiring providers to register with the government. Unregistered VPN services could be blocked outright. Officials are also considering legal consequences for users found accessing restricted services via unlicensed VPNs.
As for now, no timeline has been officially announced. But local media has reported that draft rules may be finalized by the end of the year.
The current online gambling environment in Indonesia is vast, and mostly hidden. Users often access offshore platforms hosted in regions with lenient enforcement. These platforms promise anonymity, instant payouts, and enticing rewards, thus driving a cycle of addiction and financial ruin for many.
The post Indonesia Prepares VPN Laws to Crack Down on Illegal Online Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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