Asia
How does the Indian iGaming Industry Change after the IPL 2024 — Blask Team Analytics
Experts at Blask, a leading iGaming analytical toolkit, have observed significant changes in the Indian iGaming industry following the conclusion of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). Their findings highlight shifts in market share and the emergence of top betting brands during the tournament.
How the Blask Index Changed
The Blask Index, a proprietary metric developed by the Blask team, illustrating the aggregated level of engagement across iGaming brands (measured in the number of people interested), reveals significant changes according to the open source intelligence (OSINT) data for the pre-IPL and IPL phases:
- Surged from 973,000 on March 21 (pre-IPL) to 1.9 million on March 22 (tournament kickoff)
- Peaked at 2.1 million on April 28 during high-profile matches: Gujarat Titans vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Remained strong at 1.8 million on the tournament’s final day, May 26
Main Shifts in the Competitive Landscape of the Indian Market
The Blask team highlights the following key market shifts:
- Stake’s meteoric rise from 4th to 1st position, capturing a staggering 47.69% increase in relative market share, surpassing industry giants like Parimatch, Dafabet, 1xBet, and 4Rabet
- The consequent decline in market positions for the other top four brands: Parimatch (-11.21%), Dafabet (-7.3%), 1xBet (-6.03%), and 4Rabet (-2.6%)
- Fairplay replaced Fun88 in the top 10 brands list, with a minimal difference in market share (0.89% and 0.65%, respectively)
- Stake leading MoM growth with an astonishing 362% increase, followed by Parimatch (31.48%), 4Rabet (31.75%), Dafabet (22.67%), and 1xBet (0.21%)
Growth in First-Time Deposits and Gross Gaming Revenue
Blask’s analytics department evaluated the performance of major Indian iGaming brands during the IPL using Blask AI Deep Learning algorithms to measure FTDs and GGR. They utilized open-source data from worldwide gambling commissions and employed the inner AI model to detect patterns and predict future FTDs and GGRs.
Performance is shown within an interval, displaying FTDs and GGRs on a scale from worse to better. The average value is indicated, showing the data’s central tendency. This interval benchmark helps us assess current performance in comparison to historical data and expected trends.
FTD Growth:
- Stake: 147% (March), 350% (April) | April FTD: ~302,000 deposits
- Parimatch: 42% (March), 30% (April) | April FTD: ~328,000 deposits
- Dafabet: 54% (March), 21% (April) | April FTD: ~267,000 deposits
- 1xBet: 102% (March), 0.2% (April) | April FTD: ~76,000 deposits
- 4Rabet: 73% (March), 30% (April) | April FTD: ~62,000 deposits
GGR Growth:
- Stake: 120% (March), 296% (April) | April GGR: ~$17 million
- Parimatch: 23% (March & April) | April GGR: ~$30 million
- Dafabet: 17% (March), 13% (April) | April GGR: ~$29 million
- 1xBet: 38% (March), 8.5% (April) | April GGR: ~$7.8 million
- 4Rabet: 30% (March), 23% (April) | April GGR: ~$5.9 million
By leveraging AI to analyze historical open-source intelligence, market trends, and brand momentum, these findings offer compelling insights into the evolution of the Indian market landscape during the IPL. The AI-powered projections shed light on the trajectory of key market indicators such as GGR and FTDs and provide a window into the financial dynamics of the Indian market.
“The IPL 2024 has sparked significant changes in India’s iGaming industry,” said Max Tesla, the CEO of Blask. “Our analysis shows that the market is dynamic, with newcomers like Stake making big gains and established brands facing more competition. When comparing the Blask Index from April 2023 to April 2024, we observed a remarkable increase of over 70%, demonstrating the immense potential and growth of the Indian iGaming market.”
The Indian iGaming market has experienced a remarkable boom, with the IPL 2024 serving as a catalyst for significant growth and changes in the competitive landscape. The Blask Index, a key indicator of market engagement, soared during the tournament, peaking at an impressive 2.1m daily during high-profile matches and a significant 47m during April — the most extensive engagement in Indian iGaming market history. This surge in interest and participation highlights the immense potential of the Indian iGaming industry.
The IPL 2024 witnessed a major shift in the market dynamics, with Stake emerging as a dominant force. It captured a substantial increase in market share, overtaking established giants like Parimatch, Dafabet, 1xBet, and 4Rabet. This meteoric rise of Stake significantly altered the market landscape, showcasing the industry’s ever-evolving nature and the opportunities for new players to make their mark. However, the question remains: Will Stake be able to maintain its leadership?
Moreover, the growth in First-Time Deposits (FTDs) and Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) during the IPL 2024 was a clear indicator of the market’s expansion. Thus, the growth of FTDs during the period amounted to 100% in March compared to February, with an average of 1 million FTDs. In April, the growth continued to reach 1.5 million FTDs.
The GGR metric showed an increase, but not as significant: it went up by 33% on average in March to 120 million USD and 16% in April to 146 million USD. Blask analysts intend to include May data in early June to ensure accuracy and precision.
The IPL 2024 has not only highlighted the excitement of cricket but has also demonstrated the significant growth of the Indian iGaming industry. With the market dynamics increasing and new players like Stake making remarkable progress, the future of iGaming in India appears exceptionally promising. As the industry continues to advance and introduce new innovations, it is evident that the Indian iGaming market is positioned for even greater success in the coming years.
The post How does the Indian iGaming Industry Change after the IPL 2024 — Blask Team Analytics appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
(In order of appearance from left to right)
India is on the brink of witnessing a gaming revolution that is shaping the global industry. With 590 million gamers and industry projections estimating the market to reach INR 66,000 crores at a growth rate of 14.5%, as compared to the global growth of 8% (CAGR). India is now poised to become a billion dollar gaming powerhouse outpacing growth globally.
A large contributor to this sea change is mobile gaming. India has now become the second-largest mobile gaming market by downloads, with figures 3.5 times higher than the US or Brazil. As per a recent Lumikai report, 23 million new gamers from the country joined in FY24, with weekly playtime shooting up by a notable 30%. Backed by $2.8 billion in investments and significant job creation potential, gaming is becoming a key pillar of India’s digital economy.
Nitish Mittersain, CEO & Joint MD at Nazara Technologies, says that the evolution exceeds beyond mere numbers. He underscores, “In a world where gaming is becoming a cultural and economic force, India is no longer just a consumer market, but also becoming a maker. With scale, talent, and strategic capital, Indian companies are rewriting the rules, growing from local leaders to global powerhouses.”
The country’s mobile-first ecosystem, enormous internet penetration, and tech-savvy youth have made it a fertile ground for gaming, while what’s also changing is how games are being made, distributed, and funded.
According to Anuj Tandon, Partner India & UAE at BITKRAFT Ventures, “The Indian gaming industry is experiencing a significant resurgence. A large talent pool and innovative narrative developers are fostering ecosystem expansion, leading to the creation of globally marketable games. Recognizing the emerging prominence of the Indian market, BITKRAFT is looking to make strategic investments to support its development as a vital contributor to the international gaming & entertainment sector.”
With the gaming sector in India empowering the larger community, content, and creators across the country, games are increasingly interactive among larger audiences, and platforms are working to intrigue new-age streamers and influencers from tier 2 & 3 cities in India.
Speaking about the shift in the Indian gaming market, Piyush, Founder & CEO of Rooter, “India has witnessed a significant surge in in-app purchases by gamers over the past three years, driving industry revenue growth at a 40% CAGR. Once a challenging market to monetize, improved micro-transaction behavior and effective pricing strategies are now encouraging gamers to spend more for enhanced experiences. Content creators are leveraging streaming platforms like Rooter to collaborate with publishers and raise awareness about games and their assets. Over the last two years, Rooter has unlocked multiple monetization channels, engaging with over 100 brands, numerous gaming publishers, global platforms, and gift card partners to create scalable revenue opportunities.”
The rise in engagement is paving the way for real business opportunities. Casual games particularly have opened new doors for monetization via in-app purchases, ads, partnerships, and sponsorships especially when game access is embedded seamlessly into daily routine platforms.
Yashash Agarwal, CEO & Co-founder of Gamezop, explains, “The world is waking up to where the real action in gaming lies, and that’s India. A projected revenue CAGR of 14.5% – nearly double the global average, is a clear sign that India is not just part of the global gaming story, we’re writing the next chapter.
Web gaming, in particular, is seeing explosive traction, and India is leading the charge. We’re witnessing a new wave of native users turn to web games for their accessibility, speed, and immersive play – no downloads, no wait time, just instant fun. What’s equally exciting is that India is not just consuming web games at scale; it’s also emerging as a powerhouse for web game development.
From an infrastructure perspective, we find ourselves in a better position than ever before. Devices are becoming smarter and faster, and with 5G technology, smartphones today have more capabilities than ever. As a result, people are spending more time online, leading to a surge of apps and websites across categories. At Gamezop, we’ve seen how seamlessly web games can plug into the everyday digital lives of Indian users across news, entertainment, utility, and fintech platforms. With the right regulatory and infrastructure support, India could very well define the future of web gaming.”
Meanwhile, on the development front, the industry is seeing a shift toward homegrown innovation. Indian studios have evolved from providing services like localizing global titles to creating original games that are performing well on the global stage.
Anurag Choudhary, Founder & CEO of Felicity Games, puts it plainly, “India is not just becoming a billion-player market, it’s emerging as a powerhouse for innovation in mobile gaming. With a young, connected population and a rapidly evolving developer ecosystem, we’re seeing global-quality titles being built and scaled from here. At Felicity Games, we’re proud to be part of this movement by publishing Indian games for global audiences, backed by strong unit economics and technology-led operations.”
With supportive regulation, sustained investment, and a stark rise in talent, India’s gaming sector is reportedly estimated to reach around INR ~500,000 Crores in value by 2034. India with the growth, innovation, and the large user base is set to emerge as a billion-dollar global giant, surpassing the global growth and setting new benchmarks.
The post Gaming in India – The Rise of a New Billion-dollar Economic Powerhouse appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Esports to make its mark at Khelo India Youth Games 2025 with BGMI, Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball
Featuring titles that span mobile, console, and strategy-based formats like chess, the esports lineup at KIYG 2025 reflects a deliberate effort to cater to diverse gaming audiences. This move also signals a broader national recognition of esports as a legitimate sporting pursuit, on par with traditional disciplines, a direction that India has been moving toward with increased pace.
While BGMI remains the most popular esports title in India, Chess stands out as a particularly noteworthy addition to KIYG 2025. Once considered a purely traditional sport, Chess has increasingly found a home in the esports world, most recently as part of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, which boasts a prize pool of $1.5 million (INR 12.6 crore) for the title. NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia’s esports and gaming ecosystem, has been one of the pioneers of this shift in India. In 2021, the company organised the Chess Super League, featuring national and international stars and also hosted Chess tournaments at DreamHack India 2024 across rapid and blitz formats.
“The inclusion of titles like BGMI, Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball in the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 signals a big step forward for grassroots esports in India,” says Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming. “It’s encouraging to see esports standing shoulder to shoulder with traditional sports, and the addition of Chess – bridging classical and digital strategy shows how in tune this initiative is with global trends. But this isn’t just about tournaments. It’s about creating real opportunities to discover talent from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, places that have been overlooked for too long, thus building the foundation for a future where Indian gamers don’t just participate, they dominate on the world stage.”
Further underscoring the growing stature of Indian Chess in esports, S8UL, a global force in esports and gaming content, has signed Grandmasters Aravindh Chithambaram and Nihal Sarin to compete at the EWC 2025. In addition to Chess, S8UL will also field players in Street Fighter 6, as well as EAFC25, Call of Duty Warzone, Tekken 8, and Apex Legends at the prestigious tournament.
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL believes that the inclusion of titles like Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball console in KIYG 2025 reflects a thoughtful push to diversify beyond mobile gaming and build a more well-rounded competitive ecosystem. “It is especially encouraging to see Street Fighter 6 and Chess recognised through a government-led initiative, at a time when S8UL will be representing India in these very titles at the upcoming Esports World Cup. This development is crucial for identifying and nurturing talent across a range of platforms and genres from the grassroots level. Such proactive support from the authorities is a strong indicator of the growing legitimacy of esports in India and a positive sign for the industry’s future,” he adds.
The roots of esports entering the mainstream have already been visible across various states. Before its inclusion in KIYG 2025, the state of Bihar actively embraced the esports movement by organising the Bihar State Esports Open Championship and the Bihar Inter School and College Esports Championship over the past year. States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Nagaland have also taken proactive steps to support and formalise grassroots esports programs.
Mikhail Bhuta, Co-Founder & Tech Lead, Dirtcube Interactive LLP remarked, “Including esports in the Khelo India Youth Games is a practical step toward building a grassroots ecosystem for new-age sports. We believe that through this program, we’ll soon see national esports heroes rise from across the country and bolster India’s representation on the global stage. With this being the inaugural season, we envision having Made-in-India esports-based games be part of KIYG’s future seasons.”
With S8UL participating in Chess and Street Fighter at the EWC 2025, India has already been making waves on the international stage in eFootball, with Pavan Kampelli winning the bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Esports Games in Bangkok.
Esports will be an official medal sport at the 2026 Asian Games, and the first-ever Olympic Esports Games is scheduled to debut in 2027. These developments mark a global shift toward legitimising esports within mainstream sporting culture.
KIYG 2025 featuring esports will help identify, nurture, and empower gaming talent from the ground up. With both state and national bodies supporting the push, the future of Indian esports looks brighter than ever.
The post Esports to make its mark at Khelo India Youth Games 2025 with BGMI, Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
International Game Technology PLC (IGT) announced that the Company will unveil its latest portfolio of solutions for the Asia-Pacific market at G2E Asia 2025 at The Venetian Macao, May 7-9 in stand A801. IGT will display a tailored suite of regionally attuned multi-level progressive link and standalone titles, along with the IGT ADVANTAGE casino management system (CMS). IGT’s innovative G2E Asia 2025 portfolio is designed to deliver enhanced player entertainment, increase customer loyalty, drive performance and meet the needs of the local market.
“Over the past 12 months, IGT has seen clear results in our realigned focus for Asia, and at G2E Asia 2025, we will expand upon this successful strategy with a product portfolio designed to deliver even more depth and entertainment to operators and players. IGT’s global strength, paired with our localized focus, allows us to develop compelling offerings that provide variety across casino floors and will help increase our regional footprint for our electronic gaming machine and systems portfolios,” said Dallas Orchard, IGT Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Gaming APAC.
“With the recent appointment of new talent and partnerships, IGT remains focused on strengthening our commitment to the region by delivering a compelling product portfolio at G2E Asia. In addition to new multi-level progressive links, like the global sensation Tiger and Dragon and the locally developed Ying Fu Wa Fa Fa Fa, which takes our proven Ying Fu Wa to the next level, plus the revolutionary IGT ADVANTAGE CMS, we are set to write a new chapter in Asia by enabling our customers to diversify their gaming floors and drive performance,” said Charles Seo, IGT Senior Director of Commercial Strategy, Asia.
Some key highlights for G2E Asia attendees to discover in IGT’s stand will include:
• Tiger and Dragon Link: An extension of IGT’s global hit Tiger and Dragon, this regionally attuned link powers up performance and gameplay with Cash on Reels and a lock and respin bonus with a unique betting structure that unlocks larger values and more win opportunities. Available on IGT’s PeakSlant49, PeakCurve49 and CrystalCurve cabinets, Tiger and Dragon Link also offers the chance to multiply wins up to 10x and includes the popular multi-pot collection feature for an entertaining gameplay experience.
• Ying Fu Wa Fa Fa Fa Link: This innovative link takes an IGT proven performer to the next level. Building on classic and player-favorite Ying Fu Wa gameplay, this new evolution includes a revolutionary ‘888 Feature’ and the addition of a new progressive jackpot that accumulates rewards throughout gameplay. Available in two game titles, Blessing Fortune and Overflowing Joy, with free games for variety and entertainment, Ying Fu Wa Fa Fa Fa Link is available on IGT’s PeakSlant49, PeakCurve49, PeakSlant32 and PeakDual27 cabinets.
• Rising Rockets Link: This multi-level progressive link is currently boosting player entertainment and performance on casino floors across Asia. Available in two complementary game titles, Emperor and Empress, Rising Rockets Link offers three different lock and respin bonuses, scalable bonuses, multi-denomination options and multiple jackpot opportunities during the bonus features. It is available on the PeakSlant49, PeakCurve49 and CrystalCurve cabinets.
• Money Gong Link: Packed with entertainment and a variety of gameplay experiences, the new Money Gong Link offers an innovative lock and respin bonus feature that includes three different gameplay modifiers, ‘Multiplier’, ‘Vortex Pays’ and ‘Prize Boost,’ for more chances to win. With a unique Money Gong bonus play-off for the chance to win the Money Gong jackpot, this new link is available on IGT’s PeakSlant49 and PeakCurve49 cabinets.
In addition to IGT’s demonstration of the exciting gaming portfolio covering more than 60 individual game titles, the IGT Systems team will demonstrate the differentiating features of IGT ADVANTAGE, including exciting bonusing options for Asia and IGT’s award-winning Cardless Connect and Resort Wallet solutions. Offering a modular design that supports convenience-driving apps, IGT ADVANTAGE drives the player experience forward while helping optimise casino operations. Through IGT’s HTML-based M5 technology, operators can deliver personalised real-time promotions, bonuses and more to the player via the cabinet’s service window.
The post IGT Unveils Advanced Product and Solutions Portfolio at G2E Asia 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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