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Top Gaming CEOs Call Out Google’s ‘Extortionist’ 30% Tax on Gaming Apps at Consilience 2023

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Top gaming CEOs expressed their concerns over the ‘extortionist’ 30% tax imposed by Google on gaming apps at a panel discussion held at Consilience 2023, organized by the Law and Technology Society (L-Tech) at National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in partnership with All India Game Developers’ Forum (AIGDF).

Manish Agarwal, Co-Founder of IndiGG, stated that the 30% tax on gaming apps is unfair. “The 30% jagirdari tax is an extortion and I believe in India we should not allow anybody to do this, especially when you’re not an Indian company,” he said. He pointed out that, in a country like India, the focus needs to be to increase its propensity to pay and reduce friction in spending among consumers. Adding an extra 30% tax on top of the goods and services tax (GST) is a significant expense for consumers, which he believes is unproductive from a gamer’s perspective.

Anuj Tandon, Gaming Chief Executive Officer for JetSynthesys, expressed a similar sentiment. “When app stores and play stores were launched, the 30% fee was revolutionary compared to the 70% charged by OEMs or Telcos for game developers. At that time, it was a very good idea, but as the industry and business models have evolved, there needs to be a relook at the rates,” he added.

Sai Srinivas, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer for Mobile Premier League (MPL), highlighted that the 30% commission may be viable in advanced markets like the United States, but for India, it is crucial to ensure that Indian game developers receive more revenue to invest in game development and build more games. “Let’s evaluate the unit economics; if a developer charges 100 rupees, 30 rupees go to the play store or app store and 70 rupees goes to the developer,” he explained. “From that 70 rupees, they have to pay for hosting, user acquisition and other expenses. My view is that we should provide Indian game developers with more revenue to invest in game development and build more games.”

Sean Hyunil Sohn, Chief Executive Officer for Krafton Incorporated India, called for proper intervention by the government and encouraged the development of competition from third-party stores, supported by consumers.

Consilience 2023 marked the first conference of its kind to be held in the wake of the notification of the new online gaming rules by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The conference shed light on the legal and regulatory requirements that must be met, growth strategies to be adopted and policy needs for the industry to reach its full potential.

The conference explored topics such as online gaming regulations, taxation of gaming and new business opportunities that gaming companies can leverage. Speakers included Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder of Nodwin Gaming, Anupriya Sinha Das, Head of Corporate Development at Nazara, Rachit Rastogi, Chief Operating Officer for Good Game Exchange (GGX), Joyjyoti Misra, Group General Counsel for Gameskraft, Ritika Chatterjee, General Counsel for Mayhem Studios and Arun Prabhu, Partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. The panels were expertly moderated by professors of NLSIU like Dr Betsy Rajasingh (Associate Prof, NUJS), who has expertise in intellectual property and technology law, Professor Sanyukta Chowdhury, who specializes in tax, Professor Rahul Singh, Associate Professor of Law at NLSIU, whose expertise lies in corporate affairs and competition law, and Dr TS Somashekar, Professor of Economics, NLSIU.

“Consilience has always been a syncretic conference bringing together different perspectives on law and technology,” said Shikhar Sharma, Convenor of the Law and Technology Society 2022/23. “This year, we are proud to host it with AIGDF and bring in the perspective of business into the intersection of Law and Technology.”

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Meridian Donate: Revolutionizing CSR in the Betting and Gaming Industry

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  • Innovative engagement strategy positions MeridianBet as a leader in CSR within the betting and gaming industry
  • Optimized brand loyalty as active customer participation in CSR strengthens connection and loyalty
  • Scalable impact, as the model is designed for expansion and could be adapted to new markets, indicating potential for widespread adoption and growth

Transforming Customers into Environmentalists and Humanitarians

MeridianBet’s pioneering initiative, Meridian Donate, is transforming the betting industry by engaging customers directly in corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions. This unique platform allows customers to actively participate in and fund various environmental, societal and humanitarian projects, setting a new standard for customer engagement and community impact.

Key Features of Meridian Donate:

  • Direct customer involvement: Customers are not just donors but active participants in CSR decisions
  • Diverse programs: Offers choices from global afforestation to local humanitarian efforts
  • Partnerships with renowned organizations: Collaborates with entities like the Red Cross and UNICEF

Expanding Impact: A Year-by-Year Growth

The Meridian Donate platform has seen substantial growth in its scope and impact:

  • Number of individual campaigns: Grew from 8 in 2021 to 20 in 2023
  • National markets Integrated: Expanded from 3 in 2021 to 8 in 2023
  • Direct Beneficiaries: Increased from 43 NGOs in 2021 to 159 in 2023

In 2023 alone, the platform’s expansion into eight markets facilitated 20 customer-funded campaigns, directly benefiting 159 NGOs, up from 122 the previous year.

Continued Commitment to Innovation and Community Involvement

Meridian Donate not only showcases MeridianBet’s dedication to CSR but also redefines the role of digital marketing within the industry. By converting sports bettors into active CSR participants, Meridian Donate enhances customer loyalty and brand value, making it a critical element of MeridianBet’s market strategy.

Recent Successes and Future Outlook

In its recent operation, Meridian Donate has launched an ambitious global afforestation initiative, committing to plant 20,000 seedlings across various regions. This project not only underscores our environmental commitment but also enhances our brand’s community presence. Already, several hundred contributions have been recorded in the platform’s first month, indicating robust customer engagement and support.

The post Meridian Donate: Revolutionizing CSR in the Betting and Gaming Industry appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Imagine Live Launches Casino Hold’em

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Imagine Live proudly unveils its latest game addition – Casino Hold’em. This thrilling new game promises to elevate the poker experience for enthusiasts and novices alike, combining the excitement of traditional Texas Hold’em with the thrill of live casino action.

Casino Hold’em offers players a dynamic and immersive gaming experience. With sleek graphics, intuitive gameplay, and live dealers, players will feel seated at a high-stakes table in a world-class casino right from the comfort of their homes.

Key features of Casino Hold’em include:

Neon-lighting Studio: Casino Hold’em has a very inviting atmosphere. It features an elegant, well-designed studio with neon lighting that evokes a sophisticated gaming environment.

Captivating Gameplay: Stunning graphics and seamless gameplay transport players to the heart of the action.

Bonus Bet: In Casino Hold’em, players can place a Bonus bet alongside their initial Ante bet. Even if the Play bet is lost, the Bonus bet remains unaffected and can still be won if the specific hand criteria are met.

Multiplatform Compatibility: Enjoy Casino Hold’em on desktop, tablet, or mobile devices, allowing players to play anytime, anywhere.

“We’re thrilled to introduce Casino Hold’em to our players,” said Mikayel Aznauryan, Chief Product Officer at Imagine Live. “At Imagine Live, we’re committed to delivering premium gaming experiences, and Casino Hold’em is no exception. With its blend of live action, strategic gameplay, and neon design, we believe it will quickly become a favorite among poker enthusiasts worldwide.”

The post Imagine Live Launches Casino Hold’em appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Relax Gaming increases Italian presence via Octavian Lab aggregation deal

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Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, has further increased its footprint in the Italian market with Octavian Lab.

Octavian Lab is a software house and service provider for online gaming suppliers. Led by highly specialised technicians, the company is committed to the development of products, protocols and integrated solutions in key regulated iGaming markets.

This partnership will see Octavian Lab’s operator partners in Italy, including leading sportsbook and casino Eurobet, gain access to a host of popular Relax Gaming titles.

Eurobet players are now able to enjoy timeless classics from Relax Gaming including the hugely popular Money Train series, Wild Chapo 2 and Marching Legions.

Gianluca Crimaldi, Director of Italy at Relax Gaming, said: “In order to continue our hugely successful trajectory in key markets such as Italy it is imperative that we continue working alongside some of the industry’s best aggregators.

“We are delighted to partner with the talented team at Octavian Lab who are helping ensure our games reach Italian players via the country’s top operators.”

Emanuele Nocentelli, CEO of Octavian Lab added: “We are proud of our partnership with Relax Gaming, one of the industry’s leading providers of high-quality games. It’s fantastic to be distributing their portfolio via our Gaming and Aggregation platforms and we are confident that Relax content will resonate with a wide audience of players across Italy. We look forward to maintaining and building upon this partnership for a long time to come.”

The post Relax Gaming increases Italian presence via Octavian Lab aggregation deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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