Gaming
India bans online betting as gaming crackdown intensifies
MUMBAI: India’s cabinet approved sweeping legislation on Tuesday that will make online betting a criminal offence, dealing a severe blow to the country’s booming digital gaming sector. The Online Gaming Bill, set to be introduced in parliament on Wednesday, represents the government’s most aggressive move yet to regulate an industry projected to reach $9.1 billion by 2029.
Under the new law, banks and financial institutions will be barred from processing payments for real-money gaming platforms, effectively choking off funding to betting operations. The legislation also prohibits advertisements promoting monetary gaming whilst encouraging skill-based games and e-sports.
The crackdown follows a surge in fraud cases linked to offshore betting platforms and their celebrity endorsers. Unauthorised betting already carries penalties of up to seven years in prison under existing criminal provisions, but the new bill strengthens enforcement mechanisms and expands the scope of punishable offences.
Real-money games currently account for 86 per cent of revenues in India’s online gaming market, valued at $3.7 billion in 2024. The sector has been under increasing scrutiny since the government imposed a 28 per cent goods and services tax in October 2023, followed by a 30 per cent levy on net winnings.
The ministry of electronics and information technology is expected to serve as the central regulator, with powers to block unregistered or illegal gaming sites. Since 2022, authorities have already blocked more than 1,400 betting and gambling websites.
The legislation aims to create uniform regulations across states whilst preserving their constitutional authority over gambling matters. The government has issued advisories warning parents and teachers about gaming addiction, whilst broadcasters must now carry disclaimers about financial risks in gaming advertisements.
Industry observers warn the ban could drive the sector underground, potentially exposing users to greater fraud risks. However, officials argue the measures are essential to protect consumers from addiction and financial exploitation in an increasingly unregulated digital landscape.
Gaming
Nodwin Gaming partners with Runestone for esports data and integrity solutions
South Asian esports leader joins forces with Czech tech firm to enhance tournament operations.
MUMBAI: Nodwin Gaming has just levelled up its game by bringing in a specialist to keep the scoreboard honest and the fans fully engaged. The leading South Asian esports and gaming company has announced a strategic partnership with Runestone, a Prague-headquartered esports technology firm specialising in real-time data and engagement solutions for tournament organisers and publishers.
The collaboration aims to strengthen competitive integrity, improve operational oversight, and deliver more interactive viewing experiences across Nodwin’s properties. It will initially focus on the Nodwin Clutch Series for Counter-Strike 2, a Tier 2 tournament that provides emerging teams with consistent competitive opportunities and helps build the talent pipeline.
The latest edition of the series recently concluded with Big defeating ECSTATIC 2–1 in the grand final of the $50,000 online event.
Nodwin Gaming chief business officer at MENA and global head of data monetization Teemu Koski said, “Integrity and transparency are fundamental to sustainable esports ecosystems, especially in Tier 2 competition where the next generation of talent emerges. Runestone’s expertise complements our experience in building scalable esports IPs.”
Runestone head of partnerships Michael Schwartz added, “Nodwin Gaming has built one of the most dynamic esports ecosystems across emerging markets. We’re thrilled to collaborate on supporting tournaments with greater transparency, deeper fan interaction, and scalable tools.”
Both companies are exploring opportunities to extend the partnership across additional titles, including mobile-first competitive ecosystems, and to develop new products for publishers, tournament operators, and event promoters.
In the rapidly growing world of esports, where fair play and fan excitement are equally crucial, Nodwin Gaming and Runestone are teaming up to ensure every match is not only competitive but also transparent and engaging. This alliance could well become a game-changer for Tier 2 tournaments across South Asia and beyond.
