Asia
BK8 announces Asian partnership with five La Liga clubs for new season
New deals mark starts of ambitious partnership plan with European football clubs
The betting brand BK8 have today announced partnerships with five clubs in La Liga Santander ahead of the new season.
BK8 will become the official Asian Betting Partner of Valencia CF, Athletic Club, Villarreal CF, RCD Mallorca and Elche CF for the course of the 2021-22 La Liga season.
Michael Gatt, MD for Europe at BK8, said: “These new deals are really exciting for BK8 and represent a huge marker for us as a brand in being able to begin to achieve some of our objectives in working closely with football related partnerships.
“We are very ambitious and to have joined forces with some of Spain’s leading clubs shows the determination we have to be able to address some of the work we want to do moving forward.
“We are working with a number of football stakeholders across Europe at this moment in time, so we can continue on this positive trajectory and help us invest with not just clubs but also charities and the community who share our ambition to make a difference in football.
“This partnership with some of Spain’s elite football institutions puts us on the map in Europe and we look forward to a successful relationship with them all.”
The deals will see BK8 branding on the clubs digital and social media channels in Asian Market as well as activities with the players of all five clubs across the season, plus includes virtual perimeter advertising rights in the region.
Anil Murthy, Valencia CF president, said: “VCF is a global brand and Asia is an important market for us. We hope that with this agreement with BK8, our presence in Asia will continue to grow.”
Fernando Roig, Villarreal CF president said: “We are very pleased with this partnership agreement in Asia. We hope it is beneficial and positive for both parties, and as a global sporting entity, it helps us gain presence in such an important continent.”
Alfonso Diaz, RCD Mallorca CEO of Business said: “This is a really important agreement for us and it confirms our progress on a global strategy in which RCD Mallorca brand expands internationally”.
Joaquin Buitrago, Elche CF president: “ It is great news for us to sign this partnership with BK8. A company with proven influence in the Asian market and that allows us to strengthen our sponsorship structure and also to continue enhancing our image in the international market together with other La Liga clubs”.
Asia
Nazara announces five investments totalling INR 196 Crores to drive growth across Gaming and Entertainment
Nazara Technologies Limited (BSE: 543280 | NSE: NAZARA), India’s only listed diversified gaming and sports media company, has unveiled a series of strategic investments aimed at solidifying its position in the gaming and entertainment ecosystems.
Nazara has announced new Investments in Funky Monkeys & Learntube.ai
Nazara has expanded into physical entertainment with the acquisition of a 60% stake in Funky Monkeys Play Centers Private Limited, a leader in indoor soft play centers for children, for INR 43.7 crores. Funky Monkeys operates 11 centers across India, offering interactive play experiences for children.
Co-founders of Funky Monkeys, Binita Putcha and Sanjay Ghadiali, said: “We are excited to join hands with Nazara, whose vision for digital and hybrid entertainment aligns closely with ours. With Nazara’s expertise and resources, we are confident we can scale Funky Monkeys and bring even more joy to children and families across India. We also see synergies with digital IP’s owned by Nazara such as Kiddopia and will work to maximise these opportunities”
Nazara will also invest INR 4.2 crores for a 4.7% stake in Learntube.ai, an AI-powered platform revolutionizing education with 1:1 interactive and gamified learning. Catering to over 20 lakh learners, LearnTube is the world largest personalised learning platform that offers affordable, interactive gamified learning experiences for professional skilling.
“LearnTube’s collaboration with Nazara is a bold step forward in reshaping professional learning and interactive media. We are excited to combine forces to lead innovation on a global scale,” said Shronit Ladhani, Co-founder, LearnTube.
Nazara has Increased its shareholding of existing companies
Nazara will invest INR 148 crores in its existing subsidiaries including Sportskeeda, Nodwin Gaming, and Datawrkz to increase its ownership in them and support their growth.
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Nodwin Gaming: Nazara will invest INR 64 crores through subscription of Optionally Convertible Preference Shares to bolster Nodwin’s growth. The funds will support Nodwins expansion, enhance its intellectual properties (IPs), and strengthen its footprint in emerging markets.
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Absolute Sports (Sportskeeda): Nazara will invest INR 69 crores to purchase shares arising from exercise of ESOPs from the Sportskeeda management to increase its stake to 100% in the company making it a wholly owned subsidiary.
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Datawrkz: Nazara granted in-principle approval for an investment of INR 15 crores in Datawrkz through the subscription of Compulsorily Convertible Cumulative Preference Shares to support ongoing growth of Datawrkz
Speaking on these investments, Nitish Mittersain said: “Nazara is committed to building the largest diversified gaming and entertainment platform out of India and many of our initiatives announced today are geared towards propelling profitable growth in these strategic areas of our interest.”
Asia
India Investigates Google Over Policies for Real-money Games
India’s competition oversight body has ordered a probe into Google over its policies for real-money games on its platform
The investigation comes after a complaint by online gaming group WinZO that called Google’s policies restrictive.
WinZO contacted India’s Competition Commission (CCI) back in 2022, after it was excluded from Google’s Play Store, despite some of its competitors being allowed.
Google’s policy had allowed for real-money games which include rummy and fantasy sports but the company was rejected for carrying games in other categories that Google did not accept – including car racing, puzzles and Indian carrom.
“By granting preferential treatment to select app categories, Google effectively creates a two-tier market where some developers are accorded superior access and visibility while others are discriminated against and thus, left with a competitive disadvantage,” indicates a letter from the CCI.
Asia
SuperGaming’s Indus Battle Royale surpasses 5 million downloads; concludes first international playtest in Manila
SuperGaming’s highly anticipated Indo-futuristic Battle Royale game, Indus, has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 5 million downloads on the Google Play Store and over 100,000 installs on the iOS App Store. This remarkable feat solidifies its position as one of India’s fastest-growing games. The title has also been recognized as the Best Made in India Game by Google Play in their prestigious Best of 2024 awards.
Indus has captivated players with its distinctive Indo-futuristic world setting that seamlessly blends Indian culture with futuristic aesthetics, immersive gameplay, and community-driven innovation. Key gameplay features like the Cosmium Clutch, Grudge Mechanic, and culturally inspired avatars and weapons have particularly resonated with players, offering strategic depth and adrenaline-filled matches.
Building upon this momentum, SuperGaming recently hosted its first international community playtest at the YGG Play Summit in Manila, Philippines. The event featured some of the region’s top esports talent, with Kadiliman Esports emerging victorious. This successful international debut aligns with SuperGaming’s vision to expand its player base while maintaining a deep-rooted connection to its community.
“Surpassing 5 million downloads is more than a milestone—it’s a reflection of the enthusiasm our players have for Indus,” said Roby John, Co-Founder and CEO of SuperGaming. “Hosting our first international playtest at the YGG Play Summit was another defining moment for us, and a reminder of what gaming can achieve—bridging cultures and bringing people together. We’re driven to keep breaking new ground and taking Indus to even greater heights, reaching newer players across the world,” he adds.
Furthermore, in a move to strengthen India’s esports ecosystem, SuperGaming has also announced its year-long Clutch India Movement. The initiative kicks off with the Indus International Tournament, running from October 2024 to February 2025, featuring a massive prize pool of INR 2.5 crores. The tournament will bring together top Indian and international teams across four competitive phases.
SuperGaming remains committed to keeping Indus fresh with regular updates based on player feedback, ensuring the game continually improves. These efforts demonstrate the studio’s commitment to creating a gaming experience that reflects its players’ needs and aspirations while redefining the global perception of Indian gaming.
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