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It’s been another busy week, with major deals, ambitious partnerships, and a legal showdown that could have big implications. Let’s break it down:
The Indian real-money gaming (RMG) sector is still feeling the aftershocks of that 28% GST on deposits, and its been a period of consolidation. OneVerse is clearly leading this charge, having acquired PokerDangal, adding the popular platform to an already huge network that includes Spartan Poker, PokerSaint, and Calling Station. While the financial details haven’t been released, this move is a clear statement of intent. OneVerse is building a serious network and clearly has the funding to make it happen.
The IPL is the event for fantasy sports platforms, and My11Circle is making a major power play. They’ve partnered with JioStar as a co-presenting sponsor for the IPL 2025 digital stream. This means their platform will be front and centre for millions of cricket fans watching the matches live. It’s a clever move and a direct challenge to Dream11’s long reign as the top dog in this space.
Star India, who hold the official broadcast rights for the ICC Champions Trophy, has initiated legal action against betting platform 1xBet for allegedly streaming tournaments illegally and is pushing for arrests. This could even have consequences for celebrities who’ve endorsed 1xBet, a reminder that there are risks to partnering with unregulated operators.
OneVerse Keeps Dealing Itself Aces: PokerDangal Joins a Stacked Deck
The Indian real-money gaming (RMG) sector is in the middle of a serious shake-up. That 28% GST on player deposits that landed last October hit the industry like a ton of bricks. It’s the same tax rate they apply to casinos and horse racing, and it’s fundamentally altered how online poker, rummy, and fantasy sports platforms operate.
The immediate fallout was predictable. Operators were suddenly facing much smaller profit margins. Many decided to swallow most, or even all, of that GST themselves. Why? Because players would likely have vanished if they’d been forced to pay a 28% tax on every single deposit. It was a necessary evil, especially for poker sites. But absorbing that cost meant finding savings somewhere. We saw rake increasing across the board, fewer promotions and bonuses, and, unfortunately, some companies even had to let people go, while others shut shop.
But here’s the thing: the industry is consolidating instead of collapsing. We’re seeing a flurry of mergers and acquisitions – it’s like everyone’s trying to build the best possible hand to survive and, hopefully, thrive. And OneVerse is playing its cards aggressively.
They’ve just added PokerDangal to their growing collection. Founded in 2017, PokerDangal has built a solid following of over two million players and offers a good mix of games for both casual and serious players.
OneVerse, with Prashanth Joshua at the helm, has been on a buying spree for the past year. It’s like they have a shopping list of RMG brands: Spartan Poker, Calling Station, BatBall11, PokerSaint… and now PokerDangal. They’re clearly building a significant presence in the market, and they’ve got a reported ₹250 Crores to back their ambitions.
Their strategy makes sense on a couple of levels. First, it’s about survival. With the GST squeezing margins, getting bigger is a way to cut costs. By combining operations, sharing resources, and streamlining marketing, they can become more efficient.
But it’s also about looking ahead. OneVerse clearly believes in the long-term potential of RMG in India despite the current bumps in the road. They’re betting that by creating a powerful, multi-faceted platform, they can leverage a larger player base and provide a better overall experience.
But, OneVerse isn’t the only company playing this game. The whole industry is consolidating:
Karan Gandhi, one of PokerDangal’s co-founders, seems optimistic about joining forces with OneVerse. “This integration allows us to reach a wider audience and grow our gaming ecosystem. Partnering with OneVerse helps us scale and explore new opportunities.”
Paul Michael, CEO of OneVerse Gaming, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “Bringing Poker Dangal into the OneVerse platform is a step towards improving game development and player engagement.”
That 28% GST was a tough pill to swallow, but the Indian online gaming industry seems to have adapted. The focus is now on building businesses that can weather the storms and still deliver a great experience to players to get them to keep coming back.
My11Circle Bets Big on IPL 2025: Strikes JioStar Deal to Gain Ground on Dream11
The Indian Premier League (IPL) isn’t just a cricket tournament; it’s a cultural phenomenon. It’s India’s richest sporting event, a two-month-long festival of sixes, wickets, with a fair share of glitz and glamour. For fantasy sports platforms, it’s the Super Bowl, the World Series, and the Olympics all rolled into one—the absolute peak season for user engagement and revenue. It is the best opportunity for these apps to cash in.
My11Circle, one of India’s leading fantasy sports platforms, clearly understands this. They’ve inked a deal to be a co-presenting sponsor for the digital streaming of IPL 2025 on JioStar. This is a direct challenge to Dream11, the long-standing leader in the fantasy sports space.
The IPL’s financial power is undeniable. The title sponsorship rights alone have gone for staggering amounts. Back in 2008, DLF paid around ₹40 Crores per year. The value ballooned in the following years, with companies like Pepsi, Vivo, and Tata shelling out hundreds of crores for the privilege of associating their brand with the league. Tata Group retained the title sponsorship by paying around ₹2,500 Crores for a 5-year association in 2024.
The IPL’s official partners also spend huge. The media rights are another massive revenue stream. Star India previously held the combined TV and digital rights, paying a mind-boggling ₹16,347.50 Crores for a five-year deal. For the 2023-2027 cycle, the rights were split, with Star India retaining the TV rights and Viacom18 (which operates JioCinema, the live-streaming platform that often works in tandem with JioStar) grabbing the digital rights for an even larger sum – over ₹23,000 Crores. This underscores the incredible value of reaching the IPL’s massive digital audience.
My11Circle’s association with the IPL isn’t new. They’re in the second year of a five-year commitment as an official Associate Partner of the league. In previous seasons, they’ve been highly visible, with prominent branding during matches and extensive advertising campaigns.
But this JioStar deal takes things to another level. It’s about integrating the fantasy sports experience directly into the live stream. As Saroj Panigrahi, Chief Operating Officer of Games24x7 (My11Circle’s parent company), explained, the aim is to create a “more dynamic and immersive experience” for users. The goal is to seamlessly connect fantasy sports with the live action, making every match even more exciting for fans.
Dream11 has been the dominant player in the Indian fantasy sports market for years, boasting a massive user base and strong brand recognition. But My11Circle has been aggressively challenging that dominance, and its marketing strategy is a key part of that effort.
My11Circle has assembled an impressive roster of brand ambassadors, including top-tier cricketers like Sourav Ganguly, Shubman Gill, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, and even Bollywood stars like Ranveer Singh.
Games24x7, the company behind My11Circle, is no small player either. Founded in 2006 by Bhavin Pandya and Trivikraman Thampy, it has attracted backing from major investors like Tiger Global, The Raine Group, and Malabar Investment Advisors. They also operate RummyCircle, India’s largest online rummy platform, making them a serious contender with deep pockets and experience.
The Indian fantasy sports market is booming, and the IPL is the main engine driving that growth. My11Circle’s JioStar partnership is a bold bet that integrating fantasy sports with live streaming will be a winning strategy.
1xBet Faces Legal Action: Star India Alleges Copyright Infringement Over Illegal Streaming
The ICC Champions Trophy is a big deal in the cricket world, and the rights to broadcast it are worth a fortune. That’s why Star India, the official broadcaster, is seeing red over 1xBet‘s alleged illegal live-streaming of the tournament series. This isn’t just about a few people watching a match for free; it’s about protecting a massive investment and sending a message to other potential pirates.
Media companies like Star India (and now, increasingly, digital platforms like Viacom18) shell out insane amounts of money for the exclusive rights to broadcast major sporting events. We’re talking billions of rupees for tournaments like the IPL and ICC events. These rights fees are a huge part of how these leagues and tournaments are funded. When someone like 1xBet allegedly streams the matches illegally, they’re essentially stealing that value. They’re offering the same product without paying the price, and that directly undermines the entire business model of legal broadcasting.
That’s why Star India has filed a First Information Report (FIR) with the Bengaluru police, accusing 1xBet of copyright infringement. They’re not just asking for a slap on the wrist; they want the people responsible for the illegal streaming arrested. The legal proceedings involve sections of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, making them serious in nature.
The case is currently against “unidentified individuals,” but sources suggest that the investigation will extend to celebrities who have endorsed 1xBet. Bollywood actor Urvashi Rautela is reportedly among those who could be questioned. This is a crucial point: celebrity endorsements give these platforms legitimacy and reach a wider audience. By targeting endorsers, authorities are trying to cut off the oxygen that allows these illegal operations to thrive.
Star India’s complaint makes its legal position clear: “Any telecast, transmission, or streaming without the company’s express permission violates Star’s copyright and broadcast reproduction rights.”
The 1xBet situation is particularly concerning because it’s not a new problem. The Indian government has tried multiple times to block access to the platform, but it keeps popping back up. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has repeatedly warned against advertising illegal betting and gambling websites, but 1xBet and others like it continue to operate and find ways to reach Indian consumers.
And it’s not just an India problem. 1xBet, which is based in Cyprus and licensed in Curaçao (a jurisdiction known for its lax gambling regulations), has been banned in several countries, including the US, the UK, Russia, France, and Spain. It’s been linked to illegal gambling and money laundering globally. This isn’t some small-time operation; it’s a global entity that’s been repeatedly accused of flouting laws and regulations.
This legal action by Star India and the Bengaluru police is part of a larger crackdown on illegal gambling and copyright infringement in India. Authorities are clearly trying to send a strong message: they’re not going to tolerate platforms that operate outside the law and undermine legitimate businesses.
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