Asia
Speciale Invest Leads Investor Group to Raise an Undisclosed Seed Fund for the Tech-gaming Poker Startup Pocket52
Bangalore-based start-up, an online poker platform Pocket52 , has taken a major step in evolving the Random Number Generator technology. iTech labs, a globally renowned third-party certification agency based out of Australia, has certified Pocket52 as a cryptographically secure RNG platform.
In Fact, Pocket52 is the first company to develop a cryptographically secure RNG, powered by Lava Lamps in India. They call it RNG+.
Speciale Invest led an investor group to raise an undisclosed seed fund for Pocket52. The group included marquee poker players like Abhigya Sagar, Pranjal Batra and a slew of astute entrepreneurs.
Pocket52 is boldly held together by Nitesh Salvi (CEO) along with other co-founders Saurav Suman(COO) (Co-Founder TimeMyTask now acquired), Debashish Bhattacharjee (CMO), and Satyam Verma(CTO).
Nitesh (Co-founder and CEO Pocket52) is an IIT Bombay graduate and a serial entrepreneur. His first venture Plancess was one of the top-ranked Ed-tech startups which were later acquired by the Career Point Group, Kota. Nitesh has been an ardent poker player from his IIT Bombay days. He mentions identifying major anomalies in his online poker experience over varied platforms.
A decade of unsatisfactory experiences inspired him to build a space of his own in the Online Poker Circuit. Nitesh along with the founding team aims to reconstruct the online poker experience with the help of Data & Machine Learning.
The Bangalore-based company expressed their intentions to infuse their funds in contriving an expanding consumer business. Pocket52 built their software from the scratch. The technology was built by India’s finest, led by the CTO of the company who is an avid poker player himself. Pocket52 has introduced many new features for a sophisticated gaming experience for their users.
The startup has absorbed a very dynamic and tech-savvy team which has built a whale of a product. This product holds the potential to attract a large user base and foster their sustenance. The CMO of the company with his extensive knowledge on the customer leads the planning of every reward feature and benefit. Each promotion is designed keeping in mind every type of potential poker player in India. This exhibits a tremendous level of faith in the start-up by their investors.
Arjun Rao, General Partner at Speciale Invest expresses, “We’re excited to support Pocket52 in their vision. Their vision is to bring technological innovations to the Indian online gaming sector. Of course, poker is their first game. They have a strong product differentiation around the game-play. Their integrity levels, fairness and high-quality player engagement, strengthen our confidence in them.”
Founder of Speciale Invest, Vishesh Ramrajan mentions, “The growth rate of the Indian online poker gaming industry is very high. It is a land of opportunities. Pocket52 has taken the technological lead in this space and we are happy to be a part of their growth journey.”
The RNG+ technology employed by Pocket52 is an additional security layer in their online card shuffle process. They drew this technological inspiration from some noteworthy companies like Cloudflare, a platform that acts as a medium to secure 10% of the entire World Wide Web.
Pocket52 has traced a roadmap for themselves. Their plan includes construction of personalized learning modules. This will equip the platform to impart personalized learning experience to the poker players. Machine learning will play a pivotal role in the design of these learning modules.
As per a study by KPMG & Google in India published in May 2017, the market value of Indian gaming Industry’s is about USD 300 Million. The estimated value of the online poker space in India is USD 7 billion. This value is combined with a base of more than 5 million poker players in India. This infers a massive market potential as companies like PokerStars India, Adda52, Spartan Poker, Pokerbaazi & 9Stacks are changing the face of online poker by promoting it as a game of skill.
About Pocket52
Pocket52 is a tech-savvy Poker platform, designed to create an excellent poker gaming experience and is equipped to nurture the dream of players who aspire to be professionals in poker. With a small team of dynamic people, we keep innovating to bring out the best in the players on the platform. We are always innovating to explore the untapped areas of online poker in India. So “BuildChurnWin” today at Pocket52.
For more information, please visit https://www.pocket52.com/ .
Asia
India’s top gamers Jonathan & TechnoGamerz to face off in eFootball showdown at DreamHack India 2024
Two of Indian esports and gaming’s biggest personalities, Jonathan Amaral (Jonathan) and Ujjwal Chaurasia (TechnoGamerz) are all set to lock horns in an electrifying clash of eFootball at DreamHack India 2024 which will be taking place at the Hitex Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad from November 15 to 17.
Having consistently made his mark in national as well as international tournaments, Jonathan is celebrated not only as one of India’s top esports athletes but also as a prominent content creator, with 6.5 million subscribers on YouTube. TechnoGamerz, on the other hand, stands as one of the biggest gaming creators globally, with an impressive 43.2 million YouTube subscribers.
This match-up, bringing together two icons of the Indian gaming ecosystem on the virtual pitch will be one for the ages. Fans of both stars can expect an intense display of skill, strategy, and passion for the game as both gamers compete for glory.
In addition to the exhibition match, Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. (KONAMI), the leading video game developer and publisher from Japan will also be hosting other exciting activities at the eFootball zone at DreamHack India 2024. These will include:
- 1v1 Matches: Attendees will be able to test their skills against friends and other players in thrilling 1v1 eFootball matches.
- Game Demonstrations: An in-depth look at eFootball through live demonstrations led by Konami’s gaming gurus. The one-stop spot to gather valuable insights and pro tips to elevate your gameplay in eFootball.
- Trivia Challenges: Put your knowledge to the test with trivia challenges that will run throughout the event, offering participants a chance to win exciting rewards.
- Crowd Engagement Activities: Real-life football activities like juggling and dribbling challenges to bring the stadium experience to the Hitex Exhibition Centre floor.
- Influencer Visits and Exhibition Matches: A line-up of top influencers will stop by for exhibition matches, fan meet-and-greets, and exclusive gaming sessions, keeping the energy high throughout the event.
- Exclusive Merchandise Giveaways: From trivia and 1v1 matches to game demonstrations, every activity gives participants a chance to win limited-edition eFootball merchandise.
Whether you’re looking to cheer on your favorite star, learn new techniques, or grab some amazing merch, the eFootball zone at DreamHack India is the place to be.
This year’s DreamHack India is all about passion, competition, and community, and Konami is proud to bring fans closer to the world of eFootball than ever before.
Asia
PBBM Orders Immediate Ban Against All PH POGO Operations
Citing risks posed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) operations in the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 74 imposing an immediate ban on offshore and internet gaming in the country.
In issuing the EO 74, President Marcos said “the State has the paramount duty to safeguard national security, maintain public order, uphold the rule of law, protect the safety of its citizens, and ensure the integrity of the social fabric of the nation.”
“…In pursuit of such duty, an unequivocal ban of POGO/IGL operations was pronounced during the State of the Nation Address on 22 July 2024.”
The EO cited the Department of Finance (DOF) study in saying that POGO activities significantly outweigh the economic and social benefits derived from the POGO industry because of the risks and negative consequences such as increased crime rates, social instability and exploitation of vulnerable people associated with them.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Report also indicated POGOs have been identified as susceptible to money laundering, fraud and other illicit financial activities, and therefore pose substantial threats to the integrity of the national financial system.
“The high reputational risks associated with POGO/IGL operations deter foreign investment and tourism, undermining the efforts of the National Government in promoting the country as a safe and sustainable investment and tourism destination,” the EO stated.
The President’s order, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Nov. 5, will cover Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and Offshore Gaming Operations and Services.
All POGOs/IGLs and other offshore gaming operations and other offshore gaming-related/auxiliary/ancillary services with issued licenses, permits are expected to completely cease operations, including the winding up of their affairs, on December 31, 2024 or earlier.
And to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy, Technical Working Groups (TWGs) will be created. The TWG on Employment Recovery and Reintegration will address the impact of the foregoing ban on the affected sectors of the economy and ensure the reintegration of displaced Filipino workers.
This will also involve the provision of assistance and safety nets which include upskilling and reskilling programmes to ensure displaced workers could find new jobs.
The President also issued directives to national government agencies in response to the immediate POGO operations prohibition.
He wants the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and other law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts against illegal POGOs/GLs and other offshore gaming operations and services.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) was instructed to assist the TWG on Anti-Illegal Offshore Gaming Operations in securing the cooperation of homeowners associations to ensure the non-proliferation of POGO/IGL and other offshore gaming operations and services in subdivisions, condominiums and other real estate developments.
Asia
Nazara integrates with ONDC Network to Launch “gCommerce” in India, Unlocking a new era of In-Game Monetization
Nazara Technologies Limited, a leading diversified gaming and sports media platform, and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) are proud to announce their integration to launch “gCommerce” – an innovative in-game monetization platform that seamlessly integrates e-commerce within games.
The integration aims to address a persistent challenge for Indian game developers: low in-app purchase (IAP) conversion rates and poor yields from advertising. Through gCommerce, Nazara and ONDC Network are reimagining game monetization by leveraging India’s thriving e-commerce landscape and providing developers with new, scalable revenue streams.
This strategic integration will allow game developers to monetize through an affiliate revenue-sharing model, earning a commission on every successful transaction initiated by players through the gCommerce platform.
Creating Value for Developers and Gamers
ONDC Network’s expertise in creating an open, interoperable network for digital commerce will enable Nazara’s gCommerce platform to connect with a wide range of sellers across more than 10 categories, ensuring a rich diversity of product offering for gamers. This integration enhances the user experience by allowing them to make informed purchases while they continue their gaming journey.
“We are excited to announce the upcoming launch of gCommerce by Nazara via integration with the ONDC Network, as it represents a significant step forward in our mission to empower game developers with effective and innovative monetization solutions,” said Nitish Mittersain, CEO of Nazara Technologies. “We are not only creating new revenue opportunities for developers but also enriching the overall experience for our gamers.”
T Koshy, CEO of ONDC, added, “Nazara coming on ONDC Network to launch gCommerce is a testament to the versatility of the Network in supporting various industries and use cases. By bringing e-commerce into the gaming ecosystem, we are paving the way for a seamless blend of entertainment and shopping that adds value for players, developers, and the broader digital commerce network.”
The gCommerce platform is currently in soft launch and will be rolled out to game developers starting Q1, FY26.
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