iWorld
Karnataka HC order will pave way for progressive policy on online gaming: Industry
Mumbai: The Karnataka high court on Monday struck down the amendments to the Karnataka Police Amendment Act in 2021 that prohibited certain online gaming activities in the state.
The judgement comes as a relief for online fantasy sports and online gaming companies such as Dream11, Mobile Premier League, Games24X7 and Ace2Three who had suspended operations in the state after the ban came into effect on 5 October last year.
In October, the state government had prohibited and criminalised playing of games of skill including online games by risking money or otherwise by amending the Karnataka Police Act, 1963.
The provision was challenged by Skill-gaming industry body All India Gaming Federation, fantasy sports industry body Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports and real money gaming firms such as Mobile Premier League, Games24X7, A23, Junglee Games, Gameskraft and Pacific Games who moved the high court against the law.
The high court on 22 December reserved its judgement in the case after concluding the hearings from a series of petitioners that included industry associations, gaming companies and individuals who had challenged the constitutional validity of the state’s new online gambling law that came into effect on 5 October.
On Monday, the division bench comprising chief justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and justice Krishna S Dixit declared certain provisions of the Karnataka Act number 28/2021, to the extent the provisions pertaining to regulate online gaming activities, “to be ultra vires to the Constitution of India.”
All India Gaming Federation CEO Roland Landers welcomed the judgment that comes in succession of the positive judgements for online skill gaming by the Kerala and Madras HC in 2021. “With the FM’s announcement of AVGC task force that will give a major boost to the game development sector, we look forward to bringing in massive employment, through direct and indirect jobs and becoming a meaningful contributor,” he said.
Games24X7 vice president corporate and regulatory affairs Dinker Vashisht, said he hopes that these judgements nudge state governments to frame progressive policy and regulatory structure for this sunrise sector.
Witzeal founder and CEO Ankur Singh too welcomed the order enabling the industry to resume business in Karnataka and provide gaming platform to users. “This move is in line with the initiatives proposed by the FM in the Union budget to set up an AVGC task force and will further help in giving a much-needed push to gaming companies and developers,” he added.
“I am sure all state governments will also support the industry to realise its true potential, both for employment opportunities and revenue generation which can also be a big contributor to the GDP,” said Baazi Games co-founder and COO Puneet Singh. “This will also boost the investor sentiment towards the segment.”
PlayerzPot co-founder Mitesh Gangar said it will pave the way for all brands to start its operations in Karnataka. “The state contributed to a sizable chunk of user base and revenue for us and this ban uplift will allow our users to come back to skill-based gaming,” he added.
India is the fifth largest online gaming market globally with 80 million skill-based gamers in 2020 which is expected to grow to 150 million by 2023 according to an EY-All India Gaming Federation report. The sector is expected to generate revenues in excess of $3 billion by 2025.
Gaming
Roblox appoints Sunil Rao as India managing director to drive growth
Former AWS leader to lead creator ecosystem, partnerships and local strategy
MUMBAI: Roblox has appointed Sunil Rao as managing director for India, as the company looks to deepen its footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets.
Rao, who will join in May, will serve as the senior-most representative for Roblox in India, leading local strategy, partnerships and day-to-day operations. His mandate includes strengthening the platform’s presence, supporting the creator ecosystem and aligning India’s market needs with global priorities.
A key focus area will be nurturing India’s growing community of developers and creators, enabling local studios to leverage Roblox’s tools for scaling and monetisation. Globally, the platform’s creator community earned over $1.5 billion in 2025, underlining the economic potential of user-generated content ecosystems.
“Roblox is at the forefront of enabling a new generation of creators and games. India’s scale, creativity, and entrepreneurial energy present a massive opportunity,” said Rao. “I’m excited to build a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem that empowers developers and creators across the country. Ensuring child safety and aligning closely with India’s regulatory framework will be among my top priorities.”
Welcoming the appointment, Roblox vice president international Zhen Fang said India represents a high-potential market for the company. “Sunil brings deep expertise in building operations across diverse markets, and his passion for community-centric platforms makes him the ideal leader to drive our next chapter of growth in the country.”
Rao brings over two decades of experience across technology platforms, venture capital and developer ecosystems. He was previously part of the leadership team at Amazon Web Services, where he led strategy and corporate business development across Asia-Pacific and Japan. He also served as a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, working closely with startups and founders.
Earlier in his career, Rao played a key role in building developer ecosystems at Symbian, Nokia and Google, contributing to the growth of major mobile and internet platforms.
With India’s large youth population and rapidly evolving digital landscape, Roblox’s latest leadership move signals a sharper focus on long-term growth, local relevance and creator-led innovation in the market.
