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National Sports Day: Why it’s time to see esports as a key pillar of India’s new-age sporting identity
On August 21, Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, a landmark reform that bans all online money games, whether based on chance, skill, or a combination of both, while promoting esports and safe digital recreation. For the first time, esports has been officially separated from gambling, betting, and fantasy money games and recognised as a legitimate competitive sport. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will set guidelines and standards for tournaments, support training academies and research centres, and integrate esports into broader sporting policies.
The timing could not be better. India recently celebrated its first esports World Champion when Ved Bamb, known as Beelzeboy, defeated Spain’s Leo Marin in the grand final of the Pokémon GO World Championships. Officially recognised as a multi-sport event by the Indian government in 2022, esports is now firmly established as a sporting discipline in major international multi-sport competitions. It made its medal debut at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, where India competed in four titles, and the country also secured a historic bronze medal in DOTA 2 at the 2022 Commonwealth Esports Championships.
Esports will return as a medal event at the Asian Games next year and will also feature at the upcoming 3rd Asian Youth Games in October. Adding to the momentum, the Esports World Cup Foundation recently announced the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), where top players will compete not only for professional glory with their clubs but also to represent their countries in both team-based and solo formats.
At home, esports has reached the grassroots level. This year’s Khelo India Youth Games in Bihar included esports as a demonstration sport. Bihar has been a pioneer with state-level championships across schools and colleges, while Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Nagaland have also backed esports through their sports ministries. Nationally, the WAVES Esports Championships launched with support from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, further embedded esports into India’s sporting culture.
With all these developments, esports now has formal government recognition and stands on par with traditional sports. Like cricket or football, it demands skill, strategy, and discipline, with structured competitions, coaching, and performance analysis.
Similar to mainstream sports, esports tournaments in India have grown in scale and professionalism. NODWIN Gaming, South Asia’s leading gaming and esports company, has been at the forefront of this growth. Its flagship IP, the Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series (BGMS), India’s most-watched esports tournament, recently returned for its fourth season with a INR 1.5 crore prize pool and will feature female athletes for the first time, setting a new benchmark for inclusivity. These tournaments provide a high-pressure, structured environment for players, reaffirming esports’ status as a legitimate competitive pursuit.
Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming, says, “For us, the recently passed Online Gaming Bill 2025 unlocks opportunities like state and district-level championships, scholarships, and career paths similar to traditional sports. NODWIN Gaming is ready with a Zero-to-Hero roadmap – starting from grassroots tournaments to global stages like EVO, GEF, Esports Nations Cup, EWC, and the Counter-Strike Major. India already has one of the world’s youngest gaming audiences and a fast-growing talent pipeline. This clarity gives the ecosystem the boost it needs to reach global scale and recognition.”
Just like traditional athletes, esports players follow rigorous training routines. Professional gamers practise for hours daily in bootcamps under coaches, analysts, and structured regimens, combining physical and mental preparation. S8UL, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, exemplifies this approach. Their athletes competed at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh this year, where the overall prize pool exceeded INR 600 crore. S8UL also maintains a dedicated bootcamp in Navi Mumbai for both content creators and competitive athletes, reflecting the same discipline and preparation seen in established sports.
“For years, being clubbed with real money gaming meant regulatory risks and made investors overly cautious about esports. The government’s decision firmly establishes that the video games we play competitively are the only ones recognised in India as a sport. It opens the door for greater societal and parental acceptance, encouraging new talent to enter esports as well as gaming content creation. At S8UL, we look forward to working closely with the government and contributing to this process at every step,” comments Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL Esports.
Success in esports depends on multiple factors, with proper infrastructure being critical. While India is predominantly a mobile esports nation due to affordable smartphones and data, PC and console titles will feature at the 2026 Asian Games and potentially the Olympic Esports Games in 2027. High-performance equipment is essential at the competitive level, and companies like CyberPowerPC India are playing a key role in raising awareness and improving accessibility. They have provided PCs worth lakhs at events to support aspiring PC gamers, helping bridge the infrastructure gap and prepare players for international competitions.
Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer of CyberPowerPC India, added, “If cricket, football, or tennis needs courts and grounds to practice and excel, esports also requires high-quality infrastructure and training equipment. With the Bill creating a safe, regulated space for esports to thrive, we at CyberPowerPC India are committed to making world-class technology accessible to Indian players. Whether it is grassroots tournaments, college esports, or professional leagues, we believe the right infrastructure will define India’s journey to becoming globally competitive.”
As India celebrates National Sports Day, esports has emerged as a legitimate sport capable of producing the nation’s next sporting heroes, reflecting the dedication, discipline, and competitive spirit of the nation’s youth.
The post National Sports Day: Why it’s time to see esports as a key pillar of India’s new-age sporting identity appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Play your way to a share of $100,000 each week
GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, today announced the launch of an exhilarating new promotion designed to give players even more chances to win big: the Weekly $100K Freeroll. Starting on October 18, poker enthusiasts can compete for a share of a guaranteed $100,000 prize pool every single week, completely free of charge.
The Weekly $100K Freeroll offers a straightforward path for players to turn their everyday poker action into significant winnings. Players can claim tickets to both the Daily Freeroll tournaments or the main Weekly Freerolls in a variety of ways. The Daily Freerolls run twice every day, with thousands of Weekly Freeroll tickets up for grabs in each event.
Every Saturday at 08:00 (UTC-8), the main $100,000 freeroll tournament will take center stage, promising thrilling action and substantial payouts for hundreds of players.
How to Enter the Daily and Weekly Freerolls
GGPoker has made qualification easily accessible:
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Daily Freerolls (Run Twice Daily): Players can secure a ticket by:
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Fully completing their sign-up at GGPoker
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Making a deposit
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Playing 100 cash game hands
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Weekly $100K Freeroll (Every Saturday): Players can earn their spot in the big weekly event by:
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Winning a ticket in a Daily Freeroll
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Making a cumulative deposit of $500 or more during the week
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Refer a Friend Bonus: Successfully referring a friend (via GGPoker’s new Refer Your Friend feature) who registers and makes their first deposit will also grant a direct ticket to the Weekly $100K Freeroll for both players
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Playing 1,000 cash game hands
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“We are incredibly excited to launch the Weekly $100K Freeroll, offering our players an unparalleled opportunity to compete for a massive prize pool with no buy-in required,” said Sarne Lightman, Managing Director of GGPoker. “This promotion is designed to both reward our loyal community and welcome new players, making poker more accessible and exciting than ever. With multiple ways to qualify daily, everyone has a shot at playing for a tasty score each Saturday.”
To learn more about the Weekly $100K Freeroll, please visit: ggpoker.com/promotions/weekly-freeroll/
The post GGPoker Unveils Massive Weekly $100K Freeroll, Kicking Off October 18 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Fast Track is issuing this statement regarding an isolated incident that occurred in early October.
Fast Track experienced a highly sophisticated cyber attack that specifically targeted two clients operating on the Fast Track Platform.
Upon detection of the breach, Fast Track immediately ceased the attack and informed the affected parties.
Fast Track confirms that no other clients have been impacted by this incident.
Further details will be provided as they become available and appropriate to release.
If you have any questions regarding this incident, please email [email protected].
The post Important Information regarding Fast Track services appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
GAMOMAT is taking players on a colourful adventure with its new title, Frooty Troupe Sun Splash. This feel-good game launches the new Frooty Troupe series, transporting players to exciting worlds, with more to be revealed in time.
Relax Gaming has launched Masked Treasures, a volatile Aztec-inspired slot packed with mystery symbols and free spins. Set deep in the jungle on a 5×3 reel layout, Masked Treasures invites players to uncover sacred rewards hidden behind ornate gold masks, with a maximum win potential of 5,000x the stake.
Evoplay has launched Hocus Pocus Sorcery, where the night comes alive with glowing gems, enchanted books, and mischievous black cat. Hocus Pocus Sorcery captures the Halloween spirit with a supernatural flair. Players are welcomed into a moonlit world of bubbling cauldrons and mysterious symbols, where each spin offers a chance to unlock powerful features and hidden rewards.
Players will feel the power of the herd and find strength in every spin in Buffalo Wild Collection, the latest slot from in-demand iGaming content provider, ICONIC21. Buffalo Wild Collection takes players to the Great Plains, where they follow these magnificent beasts towards potentially big wins.
TaDa Gaming, is hoisting the Jolly Roger for a barrel full of gold in new release Lucky Macaw. An unusual grid layout sees three reels and three rows, with the centre reel holding an extra position/fourth row, plus 10 fixed paylines. Set in Pirate Cove with the galleon anchored offshore, Captain Macaw is ready to parley with players for pirate coins and bags of gold cash symbols.
Endorphina has announced the release of its newest title, Sloteus Gold. Featuring 5 reels, 4 rows, 25 fixed paylines, and a royal treasure narrative, Sloteus Gold is now available in online casinos. This new Endorphina slot invites players on a royal adventure for King Sloteus’ Gold, where valuable coins with multipliers up to x15 are in play.
Amusnet has released its latest slot game – 40 Lucky Wilds Hot. This sizzling online slot turns the temperature up with classic charm, vibrant symbols, and electrifying winning potential. Designed with 5 reels and 40 fixed paylines, 40 Lucky Wilds Hot invites players into a world where every spin crackles with excitement.
Million Games, together with Million Stars partner studio Yugo Workshop, has announced the launch of FreakShow Hotel, a Halloween-themed 5×3 video slot designed to deliver both festive fun and serious win potential. Set inside Count Drac’s haunted hotel, the game invites players to join a supernatural banquet filled with ghosts, monsters, and high-paying surprises.
Stakelogic has unveiled its latest enchanted adventure, Leprechaun’s Loot, where Irish folklore meets inventive mechanics. Starring Pip O’Spin, a cheeky leprechaun from the emerald hills with a gift for turning rainbows into gold, the game combines playful storytelling with exciting Hold ‘N’ Win action.
Play’n GO breathes new life into ancient Chinese mythology with Bao Shi, a visually striking 5-reel slot centred around the mythical Lion God, Lioras. Set amidst mist-shrouded mountains and long-forgotten temples, Bao Shi beckons players to release Lioras from an ancient spell cast by a malevolent warlord, bringing prosperity to those brave enough to beat the drums of destiny.
Evoplay has launched Trick or Treat Joker, a spooky slot where mischief and mayhem rule the night. Led by the sinister yet charming Joker, this Halloween-themed release blends spooky visuals with classic fruit symbols for a mischievous twist on conventional gameplay. Pumpkins, cobwebs, bats, and glowing symbols create a haunting setting for an eerie adventure.
Spinomenal is celebrating this year’s Halloween with the release of its new title, Spooky Halloween. Spinomenal’s chilling slot is set within a forest cloaked in fog, surrounded by twisted trees and glowing candles illuminating the 5×4 layout. Adding to the haunting experience is an atmospheric soundtrack, echoing with eerie chimes that builds anticipation with every spin.
Amusnet has released its latest video slot, Wild Fortune. This 5-reel, 40-fixed-payline video slot features nine beautifully designed symbols. The Wild symbol expands on all reels and positions, helping players to complete winning combinations and unlock hidden treasures.
The post Week 41/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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