Gutshot May 2021 Issue by Sajid Moinuddin

Volume 2 | Issue 5 | Mumbai |

www.gutshotmagazine.com

May 2021 | Pages 44

LOCKDOWN BUDDY: SKILLDOMINANT FANTASY SPORTS

BEYOND THE GLASS CEILING: WOMEN IN ESPORTS

THE ‘PROS’ WHO PREFER THE ‘GRIND’ SPORT OVER 9 TO 5

NEVER SAY NEVER

HASHTAG TRIO’S ANTHEM

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CONTENTS

Editor’s Note

Bulletin of the month

POKER:

Spartan Poker - Nailing the True Appeal of the Game

ESPORTS 30-31 Esports - The next frontier for OTT Platforms 32-33

Streaming to Churn Mindful ‘Sport’ Content

24-25

The Grind Masters Behind the Mic!

Tapping the House of Real Money Gaming

FANTASY SPORTS:

37-38

Lockdown buddy: Skill-Dominant Fantasy Sports

39-40

Fantasy Sports Beats

the IPL 202 Heat

Indian Gaming Moves Out of Science Fiction, Wears the AR Helmet

28-29

GAMING 26-67

Esports 34-36 Esports: A ‘Real’ Sport to Flock to

20-21 The ‘Pros’ who prefer the ‘grind’ sport over 9 to 5 22

Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Women in

RUMMY:

41-42 Rummy takes the influential high

road to popularity!

14 Never say never COVER STORY:

Hashtag Trio’s Anthem

In a ‘straight from heart’ treat for us, the unsung heroes of India’s poker events and tournaments, Sreetama Vig, Sidharth Mishra, and Karan Vig, takes us on a journey through the hustle-bustle behind lavish and sophisticated poker events.

Sreetama Vig

Sidharth Mishra

Karan Vig

EDIT

EDITOR’S NOTE

www.gutshotmagazine.com

May 2021

Volume 2

Issue 5

RMG + LIFESTYLE

MANAGING EDITOR Sameer Rattonsey EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Peter Abraham CONTENT Manthra Koliyer Donna Amo Mrinal Gujare Amarylisa Gonsalves Jochebed Mendes CONTENT STRATEGY Athira Laji DESIGN HB Design Pvt. Ltd. CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sajid Moinuddin COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Sanchit Thakur Volume 2 I Issue 5 MAY 2021 Printed and Published by: Peter Abraham for Gutshot Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., S/6-8 Khira Industrial Estate, B.M.Bhargava Road, Santacruz (West), Mumbai-400054 Gutshot Magazine is not responsible for the opinions or views expressed by individuals or writers that may be included in any part of Gutshot Magazine. The views expressed are for encourage - ment and entertainment purposes only. By being an author on this site all writers transfers copyright ownership of the manuscript to Gutshot Magazine. for publication in print, on line and in downloadable form. Permission is also given to publish all subsequent electronic media, reprints, and any other subsidiary print rights worldwide of this article for Gutshot Magazine. The author(s) will have the unrestricted right to reuse this material on condition that credits are included for prior publication in Gutshot Magazine, to include the issue and date of publication. Interviews are the personal opinions of the interviewee and are not necessarily the views of Gutshot Magazine or it’s Publishers Gutshot Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. take no responsibility for any of their answers or comments. All interviews are subject to editing spelling, grammar, and any content that is not useful may be disregarded when posted/published. Gutshot Magazine reserves the right to change, update this disclaimer and policy at will without any notice.

Apparently, we are in the midst of the second Covid-19 wave, and here I was thinking, aren’t we still battling the first wave?! Be it first or second, or third, things are pretty grim at the moment in this country. The thing with this second wave being scarier is that this time around, you know someone who lost their battle with the virus, so it’s hitting us right where it hurts this time around. Hard! Getting into the core of playing poker and embracing the sport as a profession is still considered very much unconventional in India because of its apparent ‘risk’ factor. Seeing how our approach to many things in life has now been changed irrevocably, it shouldn’t surprise us that the arguments that support poker as a sport has increased multifold, especially with the who’s who of the poker fraternity commenting on it in this issue. We look at some individuals and entities like the folks featured on our cover story, who has been the driving force to enable a new way of consuming our entertainment. You may not know their faces, but you’ve undoubtedly seen their work when it comes to the live streaming of popular online series like the IOPC, VPL, FTS, PSL, and others. We talk to Sidharth Mishra, Karan Vig, and Sreetama Vig from Hashtag Media Productions about their journey in this domain and the road ahead for India’s gaming entertainment. We take a look at another Covid casualty, IPL 2021, which has been suspended, and whether it will make a comeback in some other part of the world. All that and other stories from the world of real money gaming, e-sports, and rummy across these pages are set to entertain and inform you. Till next time, stay safe and keep crushing!

PETER ABRAHAM Editor-In-Chief GUTSHOT

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ADVISORY BOARD

ADVISORY BOARD As a part of our journey to develop into a world-class publication with the highest reputation, we happily present Gutshot Magazine’s first Editorial Advisory Board members. These thought leaders in their areas of expertise will vitalise the editorial scope and focus of the magazine and will be our eyes and ears to the Real Money Gaming industry.

Amin Rozani, MD, Spartan Group

Siddhant Sumon, CEO, PokerHigh

Karan Vig, Head of Production, Mind Sports League

Richard Haridasoham, Poker expert and commentator

Muskan Sethi, Professional Poker Player Responsible Gaming Ambassador

Ramesh Rao Thotapalli, Casino Pride 1 Poker Room

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BULLETIN OF THE MONTH

Octro Announces Worldwide Launch of 3D poker app Octro Poker

ne of India’s leading and fastest-growing mobile gaming companies Octro Inc. announced a worldwide launch of an immersive 3D poker app named ‘Octro Poker.’ Octro Inc. has ranked No.1 when it comes to player spends (India HQ) by App Annie, an expert firm in app industry analytics. Octro Poker will be available to play in real-time in modes like Blind Poker, 5 Card Poker, Slots in the Texas Hold’em variant. It will also include 3D visuals, player customizations, private tables supported by voice chat, detailed player statistics, poker tournaments and rewards. Octro Inc. runs the largest 3 card casino mobile game in In-

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dia called TeenPatti with funding from Sequoia Capital. Saurabh Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, Octro Inc. says, “Our vision is to build Octro Poker as a destination for #allthingspoker. The game has been designed for the worldwide market, with special focus on private tables (home games) with voice chat, where players can choose to play only with their friends. Game and player statistics (VPIP, PFR, Raise/Fold% etc.) that we show at the end of every game on a private table is an industry-first practice even when compared globally. We will soon be launching multi-table tournaments and private clubs.” In recent times, people’s participation in online games has increased tremendously and this has also helped revive

online poker. Since lockdowns and social distancing rules came into effect, the number of people playing poker online increased by more than 50% in some countries. Online poker is also witnessing a growth of new players who are interested in playing the game online. The number of first time poker players also increased by 200% during the given period. According to the August 2020 Global Market Insights report, the online gambling market size exceeded $ 55 billion during the year 2019 and is expected to flourish at 16.5% CAGR between 2020 and 2026. It is expected to reach $160 billion by 2026. A lion’s chunk in this market is owned by online poker and it promises to grow even more in future.

NEWS

POKER:

ESPORTS:

Next Global Poker Awards to be Hosted In 2022

The Esports Club Joins Hands with Stream Branding Management Streamcoi

Global Poker Awards have decided to reschedule their annual ceremony to 2022. Usually, hosted at the PokerGO Studios in Las Vegas, the event will be skipping year 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis around the world. ‘Poker Player of the Year’ and ‘Female Poker Player of the Year’ are some of the events prestigious awards given to deserving poker players. Eric Danis, President of the Global Poker Index and Hendon Mob organisation said, “We are honored to be a part of celebrating the accomplishments of the most renowned figures in the poker industry.” He further added, “After having to cancel this year’s ceremony due to the pandemic, we are excited to welcome the poker world once again to the Global Poker Awards in March 2022 and for years to come.” RUMMY:

The Esports Club partnered with Streamcoi, a streamer management platform. Streamcoi is a platform that has changed how stream-management works and is largely looked at. With the partnership, The Esports Club aims to leverage streaming, esports, and content creation. The deal is expected to give rise to innovative and unparalleled value for both partners. The Esports Club, founded in 2019 will now be able to monetise live streams more effectively with the help of Streamcoi. The platform already has several upcoming tournaments on titles like Valorant, CS: GO, and Call of Duty: Mobile. FANTASY SPORTS:

Fantasy Sports Industry Not Upset Over IPL 2021 Suspension When the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) decided to postpone the IPL 2021 season due to several players testing positive for COVID-19, it sent a buzz across the cricket-loving nation. The fantasy sports industry, one that thrives off big sporting events like IPL, however, supported the decision of the BCCI. Despite suffering a loss, industry leaders expressed that the safety of players and everyone else was top priority during these times. Mitesh Gangar, Co-founder of PlayerzPot said, “At PlayerzPot, we understand that the bigger picture is one of a healthy and virus-free world. If pausing this edition of the IPL can help safeguard our players and their families, then, while it is expensive, it is still a small cost to pay in the larger scheme of things.”

Online rummy platform E-Rummy Launched in India

Online rummy platform E – Rummy was launched in late April. The state-of-art application boasts of the highest cash tables, instant withdrawals, and tournaments seven days a week. The brand is a brainchild of Harrish Sharma, who is an expert in the field of rummy.

The application has been designed mainly keeping in mind the player’s choice and is easy to customize. Talking about the newest entrant in the online rummy world, Sharma, the Director and Founder of E-Rummy says, “Since 2005, I have been actively working with online games and online lottery. We

have mainly designed the application keeping in mind the choice of players. As rummy is a transparent game, we ensure that the winner gets his reward instantly. We have also made an exclusive option of private tables, where friends and family can play together.” GUTSHOT

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Spartan Poker - Nailing the True Appeal of the Game By Donna Amo

he game of poker has carved a mark for itself in the Indian subcontinent. While a niche industry in the real money gaming sector, the game has slowly risen to popularity in India ever since it hit the mainstream back in the 1990s. Over the years, through the spread of technology and the internet, poker has gone from being an underground activity to becoming one of the most played card games in the country. If you have a dream, a poker tournament is probably the answer you are looking for! A life changing sum and taking 10

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down a title, all thrown in for good measure! There have also been countless number of tournaments and poker events held both online and offline. This points to a game that is competitive in nature, just like any

mainstream sport. Streaming like a ‘Pro’ The game is slowly achieving a status akin to that of sports like cricket and football, thanks to the efforts of various industry

leaders and enthusiastic players. Live streaming is a popular phenomenon when it comes to sports and gaming. Countless players and sporting events are streamed through various social platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch. Poker, as a sport has now started to make headways into this direction as well. Final Table Series and India Online Poker Championship At the helm of all the poker streaming tournaments is Spartan Poker. From its inception in 2014, Spartan Poker has grown to humongous heights, offering a vast variety of poker tournaments to amateur and avid players alike, across the country every month. Its increasing fan base has led to the poker giant earning a reputation of being the most trustworthy online gaming portal among poker lovers.

Amin Rozani The brainchild of Amin Rozani, Peter Abraham, Sameer Rattonsey, and Rajeev Kanjani, Spartan Poker continued to raise the bar with its signature online tournament series. The India Online Poker Championship (IOPC), made a return with another market-record series in January 2020. With a whopping GTD of 28 crore to boast of, IOPC turned out to attract unprecedented turnouts and went on to become the most happening poker tournament of India. This prompted Spartan Poker to continue hosting live streamed events for the FTS 2.0 in March 2021.

Alvina Joseph will be almost at par in experiencing the same thrill and action of the game. Hence, the idea to live stream the final tables for feature events was born.”.

“It’s a similar phenomenon to the poker boom back in the early 2000s. Enhanced television coverage at the World Series of Poker allowed viewers to see what cards the players Delighting poker aficionados held. Online streaming is no across the country, Spartan different. Seeing the moves a Poker, one of the biggest poker player makes without knowing brands in the country introwhat they hold, seems like a big duced India’s first live streamed mystery, and even leaves many poker event with the Final Table baffled. However, having the Series (FTS) in November 2020. opportunity to see the player’s Hosted on the Spartan Poker Speaking about how the tourhole cards gives a deeper inplatform, all the final tables naments went digital, Alvina sight into the thought process of featured events were live Joseph, Assistant Vice President behind every hand. It’s not only streamed across social platforms - Marketing, Spartan Poker said, a source of entertainment for like Facebook, YouTube, etc. The “The pandemic had shut down poker enthusiasts but also a FTS November 2020 live stream all live events that were loved by fantastic learning tool for those was a phenomenal success with poker players, but it also opened who wish to take their game to a total viewership of 48 million. a new window of opportunity the next level,” said Amin Rozafor us to explore digitally that ni, Co-founder of Spartan Poker. GUTSHOT

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For IOPC, famous poker couples Randy Lew and Celina Lin were introduced to the Indian poker scene through the commentator’s panel. They were joined by Richard Haridasoham, Sangeeth Mohan, and India comedian and actor Suresh Menon. “While Randy Lew the live stream concept is not new, Spartan Poker was the Commenting like an art first one to bring it to India. The To keep the streams entertaining live stream gave players a good and engaging for viewers, a host platform to showcase their skills of famous and well-known enti- and learn from it as well,” said ties in the international and na- Dhirendra Kumar, winner of the tional poker circuit were called FTS Big Game tournament in onto the commentator’s panel. November 2020. The commentary of these veteran players also helped under- Gutshot was one of the official stand the game better. Interna- streaming partners for the live tional players like Maria Ho, Sam Razavi, and Kevin MacPhee were a part of the first FTS livestream with Ramesh Rao Thotapalli aka RRT and poker mom Radhika Shankar. Razavi and MacPhee also returned to the panel for FTS 2.0 and were joined by India’s first professional female poker player Muskan Sethi. Talking about how these live streams have promoted the game of poker in India, Sam Razavi commented, “Anything that serves to push poker on a mainstream level will always be good for the game, and the live streams really helped in that area. It assisted in reaching out to a whole new audience and Celina Lin naturally encouraged existing Picture Credit: PokerStars

Picture Credit: PokerStars

players to work double on their online game.”

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streams. “In the ten years of its existence, Gutshot has strived to make heroes out of upcoming poker players and help the overall industry grow. These live streaming initiatives by Spartan Poker have supported that cause, allowing viewers to understand thought processes of players through the cards-up streams. We encourage other brands in the industry to regularly host such events as well,” said Dwayne Fernandes from Gutshot Magazine.

Dwayne Fernandes Poker is slowly becoming a more recognisable sport in India. Last year alone, the poker industry experienced a 24 per cent growth in the country (EY FICCI ME Report 2021). This number is expected to grow even higher in the next few years. As the streaming trend continues to pick up space, the poker industry in India is not far behind with Spartan Poker already leading the way!

COVER STORY

Never say never Hashtag Trio’s Anthem By Athira Laji 14

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Picture Credit: Hashtag Media Productions

From left to right: Sreetama Vig, Sidharth Mishra, Karan Vig

hen you sit with the terrific trio of Hashtag Media Productions - Sidharth Mishra, Karan Vig and Sreetama Vig, you will understand or atleast they would make sure you understand that ‘to make an event successful, you cannot just set out to make it successful’. This is specifically true if you are the torch bearers for the major poker events of India. The Cover Page of this edition may have them with their poker faces ON, but not be deceived, these three unsung heroes revolutionised the phygital world of poker events and tournaments. Rolling their sleeves, and donning the commercial and creative hat, these three made Poker Sports League, India Online Poker Championship, Final Table Series, and Virtual Poker League – the big, lavish and sophisticated poker events, a massive success. Talking to them was a ‘straight from heart’ treat for us; ditching the usual path of just glorifying one’s company; they opened up about the ‘not-so-glamourous’ behind the scenes of these extravagant poker tournaments and all the while thanking the big guys with the big smiles behind all the hustle bustle . Let us start with the current situation. How’re things holding up for Hashtag Productions right now in this COVID-19 scenario? Sidharth: COVID did not stop us from working. We organised VPL and virtual PSL during these times.

So, for any business to survive, it is essential and imperative that you pivot and find solutions. Initially, it felt like a difficult situation, but what needs to be done must be done. We, as a production company, are not in the business of saying ‘No’. We try to find ways to combat that notion; it is instilled in every person who works with us in production. But amidst all these, we take care of our own! We follow all the COVID-19 protocols, make sure everyone is okay, and checked on a timely basis, not just for themselves but also for others. We are more of a brotherhood than a company. Karan: We are currently caught up with the launching our app, the Hashtag Poker! Since we can’t work out of our Production offices in Panjim due to the lockdown scenario, we have taken a 5-bedroom villa in Goa compound and shifted our production staff, servers, and edit machines, and everything, including nine of our teammates. We have set up edit stations, UPS’s, pulled up internet lines, and graphic editing set up and everything else at the villa. Our audio engineer and programmer are staying at the Ginger Hotel opposite our Goa office, where we still have our recording studio. The work can’t stop and our production team is working round the clock to ensure that. Please tell us more about Hashtag Poker App. Sidharth: Hashtag Poker is a free-to-play non-RMG app that GUTSHOT

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combines four significant aspects - learn, watch, play, and PSL. So, when it comes to PSL, qualifiers will be running through the app, and probably it is going to be broadcasted through the app as well. When the PSL goes on, the live playoffs, the actual tournaments, and everything else will be going on through the app. Secondary partners like Voot would still stream it, but the main game will happen through the Hashtag Poker app. Karan: The ‘Learn’ vertical has simulations and learning courses designed for poker players who are at novice level and goes all the way up to expert players. We have Prajit Ghambhir as the Head coach, who runs the Monster Poker Club and had also shipped the IPC Jan 2020 15k Headhunter. He has designed a learning course for all the levels elementary, beginner, and intermediate courses; the expert courses are in the pipeline. We also have Rai Singh Khurana, the former CEO of Big Stack, as the Product Head. We strongly feel that poker, unless played responsibly and with a clear understanding of how to play, no one should put their real money. Sreetama The ‘Watch’ vertical would have multiple things, especially previous tournaments. We are in talks with few established platforms to host content. We want to develop an OTT platform specifically for poker with specialised poker content and news, live streaming, player profiles, and bites that the professionals and amateurs can view. So, the ‘Watch’ 16

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vertical, supported by Hashtag Productions, produce broadcasts for tournaments for Spartan Poker, Poker Baazi, etc. We wish to be the content aggregator. Rather than going to YouTube, Facebook, or any other platform to view the content, they can just come to our platform and watch the tournaments. However, this does not mean that the individual houses will not host the game, but we would also want to do a parallel stream on our app to drive more engagement. So, the entire process goes like this - you learn the basics through our coursework, you play for free, and then you qualify for PSL, and you participate in the PSL. That is what the function of the app is at this It will keep developing constantly in

TELL TALES SIDDHANT MISHRA ‘Not-so’ secret ingredient of your A-game Adaptability The most favourite tournament? Poker Sports League Your favourite upcoming poker player Simran Malhotra Coolest thing about being in the event production space Thinking out of the box Hashtags that describe you #Soda

the future, but for now, these are the four key areas where the app is concentrating. Let us hear the whole story behind how Hashtag Productions came into being. How did the core trio team’s partnership come into being? Sidharth: I was a Consultant at Gaussian Networks Pvt Ltd., which owns Adda52, and a filmmaker by profession. Adda52 operates out of Deltin Casinos. So, my first stint was in 2016-17, during their earlier Deltin Poker Tournament. There was no RFID table in India at that time. So, I had very little idea about poker and never worked in the poker or tournament broadcast space, ,although I had worked with Greymatter Entertainment for the Indian Badminton League. I went to what I thought was a Poker event coverage along with my two cameramen. Adda52 seemed to really like the initial videos I did for them so Mr. Anuj Gupta then asked me to be their consultant. During that time, a new RFID table was shipped from overseas, and Adda52 wanted to broadcast an RFID enabled poker tournament for the first time in India. So that is when I assimilated a team, one of our first Adda52 DPTs, which was an RFID poker broadcast. I met Pranay Bagai was on the cusp of launching PSL at that time. Moving forward, we then used the RFID tech for capturing all PSL data for PSL, which was a first! However, by the fourth stream, I felt that it was time to grow the

team and expand, and that is when I contacted Karan to let him know about the poker tournament happening in Goa and asked him to join me and direct the tournament for broadcast. Karan: Poker tournament was a new space for me though I was a recreational player on Zynga. I have been a part of the Indian Hockey League, Indian Premier League when it was started in India in collaboration with ESPN and Star Sports. So, I was already a part of live programs. So, directing a poker tournament sounded very much interesting. But soon, I realised the magnitude of a poker tournament and how we need more hands-on deck. That is when we called up Sreetama, who was in Pune, to join us. Once she joined, Bang! We were a team. How were the initial days like? Sidharth: We were doing around two DPTs in a year and ended up doing a lot more. We also did DPT Xpress which was in Sikkim, where for the first time, I had to build the entire RFID table, ship the entire crew, and all the streaming equipment to Sikkim the entire crew, and everything else to Sikkim. It was tough, as getting things repaired in a remote location should anything go wrong away from the metro cities was challenging. We ended up doing PSL Season 2 as well, so that is how it happened. So, it all started with me switching from being a consultant to Deltin to becoming a co-founder in PSL with Pranav. Once that switch hap-

pened, though they had their own production company in Mumbai, we decided to shift our base to Goa permanently. By then, we were already at a strength of 6-7 people. Once the entire deal was sealed with PSL, I got the team together, out of which these two are the essential components. Karan is the Head of Productions, and Sreetama is our Senior Creative Director and Producer. How did you put up with the role of Creative Producer? How complex of a task is it to create an atmosphere that oozes creativity yet embraces the best practices? Sreetama: Creatively, every client is very different. Though we cater to poker, everyone’s approach towards poker is very different. So, while conceptualising or scripting, we keep in mind what we are aiming at. So, it is tailor-made for every client that we make content for. PSL is like a sport where we prove that poker is a sport, a team event with team buildup and boot

camps. It is a very different journey altogether with PSL. Similarly, FTS or IOPC is where individual players play for the championship. The narratives, thus, for these two are themselves very different then. For FTS, we were featuring most of the final tables, whereas IOPC had an array of tournaments with a leaderboard where everybody could win something. So, the relative efforts with each game plus where we are heading each time. Karan: The very basic thing is that the technicality in the backend of every app works very differently. For example, when we were doing the first live stream on Spartan Poker with the Face-up Cards, we realised that the app works entirely differently from the Hashtag Poker app. So, every app has a different technology behind it that controls how they function, work, or relieve information to you. We must adapt to it, understand it, and then mix it with a flavour that works for all. The most talked-about part of GUTSHOT

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TELL TALES

VPL 2020 was the unique integration of video within the live stream. How did such a one-of- KARAN VIG a-kind idea pop up? ‘Not-so’ secret ingredient of Sidharth: The idea was borne your A-game out of necessity. We had already Everything is possible conducted our live/offline qualifiers in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata. But due The most favourite to the lockdown, the challenge was tournament? to conduct additional qualifiers and Poker Sports League PSL Season 3 itself. So, we had to come up with a pathbreaking solu Your favourite upcoming tion as to how to go about online poker player streaming without taking away the Simran Malhotra experience of playing face-to-face and the whole live experience in Coolest thing about being in offline poker. We also did not want the event production space to take away the experience of play- Bringing vision to reality ing face-to-face and the whole live experience in offline poker. With the Hashtags that describe you lockdown, everyone was in com #Swissknife plete isolation. So, the next logical step was to transcend the virtual with the real and marry the two. the tournament began, they ensured that the cameras are ready, It was a breakthrough moment their audios are all set, the internet for all when Hashtag Producconnectivity is all up and running, tions successfully pulled off the the cameras’ feeds are all perfect, Virtual Poker League. But what and whether the team logos were was the behind-the-scenes visible behind them. situation? Sidharth: We ended up sendThere were a lot of activities ing out 130 shoot kits, including happening on our production green screens, lights, cameras, and front as well. We had to create microphones, to every player that a specialised Production Control qualified and participated in PSL. Room (like a mini-TV studio) for The whole experience included a) poker – first in India. We had to set a logistical nightmare which we up the room specifically for virtual overcame, and b) making sure that PSL to ensure that we get the 130 you get the feeds from all these feeds, the integrity of those feeds players and coordinating it precise- is maintained, and the players ly before the tournament. We had interact with each other, primarily, people like Dashank, Mayur, and when the PSL Bootcamp happened, Sanchit, who were constantly on it was crucial for the interation to calls with the poker players. Before happen between the poker players 18

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and furthermore, documented later for broadcast use. Karan: When you give access to players to communicate and share screen, we understand there is an element of risk. The first challenge was to make sure that there was seamless communication happening. So, our team, which included Chetan and Arvind - the most crucial member who worked on the streaming front, made sure that nothing goes wrong with any player feed. For the streaming to go smoothly, we had Ved monitoring every person’s audio separately and ensuring everything is on point. During PSL or VPL, the whole team was on a constant call with us. So, if there is any technical glitch on the app, or the player cannot play, or in case of no internet connectivity, we had two tech guy on standby to give them a solution then and there itself. Camera crews were behind them to make sure they do not lose out on the video feed. Sreetama: The whole player and satisfying viewer experience resulted from what we were doing at the backend and what these team members were doing on an individual level at every step and making sure the final product looks the way it is supposed to look. Necessity is the mother of all inventions! I think that holds very true to what we tried with VPL and PSL. We are extending our learnings from VPL and PSL to our support partners such as Spartan Poker for the FTS and IOPC tournament.

How would you rate yourself in terms of successfully managing to bridge the gap between online and live poker? Sidharth: I think we would rate ourselves 11 out of 10. We successfully married live with the live online experience. People enjoy watching streams in the live format because you can see the player, see the tells, tanking, eye movements, and the way they communicate. So, Karan successfully did that with the Discord Channel, and the video app that we created was to make players see and talk to each other as a part of the whole live experience. So, we basically made it more comfortable, and the entire transition from live to online play was not too jarring. It works on two fronts, one is for the player experience, and two is for the viewership experience. Anyone viewing it can now see the gameplay and not just the username; they generally know when the cards are up. It was critical and crucial to implement because we wanted to enhance the player experience and the viewership experience, and that’s the whole point of the stream. Otherwise, you can sit at home and play amongst yourselves; why does it need to be broadcasted. When we broadcasted it, we made sure that we put up the video format was integrated which was a world first. With this, we created a breakthrough product. The team headed by Karan and Sreetama did all kinds of brainstorming on how to achieve this.

Karan: Somehow, we went above and beyond what was expected of us and delivered. We delivered on the promise where we said we would be able to transition from live to online and vice versa without hampering or altering the user experience or the player experience. What is the next big thing for Hashtag Productions? Sidharth: The next big thing is rummy and E-gaming. We will not get into it right away, but yes, we are exploring. We have the expertise, and the groundwork done for production workflow for poker is already done. So, the transition to other card games should not be that difficult. We would try and see how well-received it will be. Rummy doesn’t have any viewership though it is more popular and has active engagement than poker. So, there is participation. It is just that we need to crack the code somewhere and actively promote rummy at some time. It will not happen in the immediate future, but in the foreseeable future, we plan to expand into other card games as a production house. Karan: The other sector that we would like to explore is Esports, now with more than 300 million gamers. There is a sizable chunk of esports available in India. Even so now, owing to the pandemic and people are mostly confined to their homes right now. They need that level of interaction that poker brings. So, we would have an easy transition from poker to esports

soon. So, that is another area of expansion we are looking at. We are still the market leaders and the only company in India when it comes to poker streaming and tournament productions. We have the expertise in building and running RFIB tables; the tournaments, broadcasting them, and have successfully stepped into the virtual space. Every adversity that has been thrown to us, we have turned that into an opportunity. So, we are a self-contained production house that serves PSL and other clients, and we are here to service other industries as and when the requirement arises.

TELL TALES SREETAMA RAY VIG Not-so’ secret ingredient of your A-game Passion The most favourite tournament? Poker Sports League Your favourite upcoming poker player Simran Malhotra Coolest thing about being in the event production space Bringing out untold poker stories Hashtags that describe you #Annapoorna

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POKER

The ‘Pros’ who prefer the ‘grind’ sport over 9 to 5 By Athira Laji

ime and again, the debate on ‘Is poker a sport or just another game on the table?’ arises between a poker player and a non-player. Till a couple of years back, the arguments that supports the claim where far less as compared to those who support. Now? Not anymore! Though there is no hardcore answer to this debate, the ratio of supporters for ‘poker is a sport’ as compared those that think otherwise has increased! ‘Poker can be a lucrative career option!’ Wait what? Someone would definitely think that you are pulling their leg and making some bad joke! The debate on ‘a career in poker’ would go a long way. So, does poker gives you enough money to sustain? Yes, it does! But as the old saying goes, ‘Poker makes easy money the hard way’. To make a career out of poker, you need to study and experience poker. Poker is a long way from being a conventional career, though it has its attributes. But there is this small but sturdy section of the poker society, the professional players, who for their deep love for poker, has left repu20

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table jobs and has made a fulltime lucrative career out of it. We did not have to dive deep into the poker vault to find a few of them – Kunal Patni, Paawan Bansal and Kanishka Samant! We started quizzing them about why they took a hero call and jumped into this ‘Poker! Wait What?’ career.

says, “It was just a matter of time before people realised the amazing sport of poker. That is the reason why poker is becoming so popular in India.” We have always been a nation that loves to play cards. When you couple that with the card game involving infinite situations, a lot of which are impossible to solve (at least currently) even for the world’s most powerful supercomputer, there develops a scenario where players approach the game in extremely different ways. This uniqueness is what makes Poker so attractive to

Kunal Patni A sport that attracts amateurs and professional alike Poker is probably the only sport associated with cards. It is something most of us start doing even when we are young. Given our love for playing cards, Kunal

Paawan Bansal

professionals and amateurs alike because unlike a game like chess, anyone can beat anyone else on a given day. Paawan says, “It is a competition in the purest sense because you’ve to constantly evolve based on your opponents and just a rote learning of the rules and general strategy won’t suffice like it might in some other games.” Won’t agree more! A player must keep honing his/her skills to get better and with time could become pretty good at it! Kanishka vouches for commitment - one has to make as opposed to some people who just play it sporadically once in a while for fun or as just another tool to gamble. Having said that, a person who is generally competitive by nature, regardless of being a professional or playing poker as a recreation, is more eager to apply his/her wits and work towards outsmarting the opponent just like in any other sport such as chess or cricket for that matter. This captivating spirit of poker attracts a lot of clever people to the game who like to draw their competitive edge on the poker play field. Embracing the ‘pro’ level with all its risks Getting into the core of playing poker and embracing the sport as a profession is considered as very much unconventional in India because of the ’risk’ factor attached to it. Though professional players may make it look simple, they were not an overnight success! Being a professional poker player

means you have to have clarity on pursuing poker relentlessly and being consistent with your approach of having a strong mental game. Kunal says, “I can say without blinking an eyelid that I work at least twice as hard as a poker player than I used to as a banker. People only see the glamorous side of poker (traveling the world, clicking buttons online, playing a sport for a living etc.” The ground reality is most successful players put in nearly as many hours at the back end study the game on a daily basis which is not known to most. Adding to that is the daily quota of bad beats, coolers, downswing, bankroll management, tilt, pressure, lack of social and personal life and you would realise how stressful the life of a poker player is. So, in reality, this is one of the most difficult professions out there and anyone who wants to get into it has to clearly understand the risk and pressure associated with it. Paawan Bansal agrees to this by saying, “From personal experience it’s not without a fair few obstacle even for the ones who have had success for long durations at the international level.” By being highly attentive and by curating the practice of eliminating mental clutter, success is assured. As a poker player, Kanishka says, you undergo sudden wins and losses and as humans it does impact you. But don’t be afraid or be stressed about the

outcome; always ask yourself the right questions – “Was that final hand played well?”, “Out of the played hands, were any of them played sub optimally?” and “How and what to do to rectify if mistakes were made and constantly looking at improving?” Just like the regulatory authorities, the poker awareness in our country is still in the developing phase and anything which is not widely accepted as a norm is bound to attract scrutiny, juxtapose that with large sums of money and glamour and it might influence people to think of it in terms that does not bode well for someone who wants to come across as a ‘Pro’. Always staying hungry to improve is the drive which is necessary for one to find success in this game, especially if you want to stay a consistent winner. If you are true to yourself and your game, you are invincible!

Kanishka Samant

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POKER

Streaming to Churn Mindful ‘Sports’ Content By Athira Laji

here has been an undeniable fact that live poker streaming has contributed to jump in poker popularity especially among India’s youngsters. For online poker operators, live streaming was a fodder to their marketing strategies. Though a bit stressful, streaming is a full-fledged form of entertainment. High-spectacle chalJaideep Sajwan lenges in streams are sure to pour resources into the platform. as displayed in cricket and football but it would be really wrong to So, after we took the view of think chess players don’t require what India’s top poker commenboth mental and physical exertion! tators think about poker being Though, it is absolutely agreeable a ‘sport’, we delved again into that chess requires more mental the poker vault which made us skill, the steadiness of physical catch three of the most famous ability is a big prerequisite for the and happening poker streamers, top players. Jaideep Sajwan, Sharad Rao and Aniruddha Joshi. We quizzed If we accept that chess ‘a mind them too about their thoughts game’ is a ‘sport’, then why we on ‘poker being a sport’ and their Indians have so much trouble in journey as stardom position. accepting that poker which is of the same caliber can be called Chess is a ‘mind’ sport and a sport too. Sharad Rao asserts poker isn’t! the same when he says, “Poker Do people consider chess as a just like chess caters to every age ‘mind’ sport? Does chess require group and if someone is willing to skill? YES! Why YES? Because put in the work, sky is the limit. these premium chess players People work day in and out on spend years and years of training their game to refine and build and mastering their sport and their their edges.” mental skill. Does chess require Poker is taking its strides, but it ‘physical exertion’? Not the same is in all its honesty, still very far 22

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away from being called as a sport in India. It was earlier viewed as taboo and gambling. The mindset that anything associated with card is gambling, needs to go. It is time that we show the door to those misconceptions – the biggest ones being ‘If I am losing, then it indicates poker is bad’ and not that maybe the person has not acquired the right skill to win the game and ‘only people who are careless about money play poker’. Poker is so viable because it can be played from the comfort of your home. Picking up on the basics and being introduced to the game is really simple. Jaideep Sajwan says, “The best poker players of India are alumni of India’s best such as IIT, IIMS, and top-ranking medical colleges or a bankers or financial experts.” His statement resonates with the

Aniruddha Joshi

You can gamble while playing poker, but you can also gamble while playing cricket or football.” Then why only poker is made the villain here! Streaming fully-fledged to churn engaging content COVID pandemic has only thrown one good thing at us, the sudden surge in interest rate for online poker stream. Poker streaming has definitely climbed ranks. Streaming brings out a lot of things - marketing and educational aspects of poker! Some players enjoy sharing their gameplay with others and followers like seeing how professionals or streamers compete on the felt. Jaideep, however, gives us a ground reality, says, “I thoroughly believe that streaming some content is more about the streamer than about the content per se.” Does it make sense? Absolutely! To make a stream entertaining and engaging you must have certain things in place, you must interact in a way where you are able to reach the audience. In poker, as such, the

content or the way of presenting should be different for players who are at the ground level or who are just starting out playing poker and someone who’s playing high stakes. There will be certain professional players who will be much better than their counterpart and who does not need educational content from a streamer’s end. Such players seek out entertainment more than education. So, it has got to be a mix of entertainment, educational and interactive content and its nowhere easy at all. Streaming the right dose The streaming platforms has managed to capture some astounding moments of poker triumph and sometimes downswings. So, is it easy as compared to live tournaments? Jaideep definitely not agrees! He says, “Streaming just happened because of pandemic. June-July is the time when I play for WSOP tournaments. But 2020 had different plans. I was in Mexico and just the thought of connecting with people in India made me play the stream. The thought of streaming being easy just vanished the moment I started playing it! Trust me, it requires a lot of efforts and my frequency of doing it is pretty much down to zero.

Picture Credit: Poker Stars

fact that people who work hard and who understands the complexities of the game and accepts it as a skill game; such people end up being successful professional poker players. Aniruddha Joshi clearly explains, ‘People can start playing MTT’s where buy-in are Rs. 10 and cash games where min buy-in is is Rs. 100. That means they caters to all kinds of players.”

Sharad Rao to your game and be followers as well. It becomes a family. Having people root and cheer for you is an amazing feeling. I love that aspect about streaming.” However, the most important thing to remember is that audience will follow your next stream only if you bring fresh ingredients to the poker table. Absolutely agreeing to what Sharad said, Aniruddha is of the opinion that streaming is always fun because it means giving back to the community. He says, “Everything he have learned would be picked up by any aspiring citizens, or sometimes people can pick up while they see me playing. I also get to interact with tons of people and that makes it worth it. The efforts are endless, from designing overlays to overcoming technical difficulties to dealing with hate online, it’s a constant work in progress.

Getting streaming started, is one For a person, who is pretty much of the most difficult part. Adding at ease with everything, stream- some personality and entertaining was a fun aspect! So, what ment helps beyond just bets and does Sharad likes about poker? raises. “People involved will get attached GUTSHOT

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POKER

The Grind Masters Behind the Mic! By Athira Laji

s much as we claim to be a progressive country, we have always had a disproportionate relationship with morality in India. We often rely on advice from the society and generally do not question the validity of their opinions out of fear, despite the fact that they fundamentally lack the experience and education in Poker. This blind following may have worked in a pre-information age because we simply lacked answers. But now with well documented answers being a google away this should not be an issue anymore. Still try being an 18-year-old, from a conservative family from a small town, staring down the barrel of a chappal and telling your parents you want to be a poker pro.

initiated. But Richard compliments the real heroes are the entrepreneurs. He says, “The real heroes are the poker entrepreneurs and ambassadors who represent the game with such class and bring legitimacy to the game we all love so much.”

Richard Haridasoham

time or livestream is extremely harder than it seems and when it comes to poker commentary, the job of the artists who bring life to poker is more difficult than being a ‘pro’. So, delving into the poker vault made us catch two of the most famous and happening poker commentators of India, Richard Haridasoham and Aditya Wadhwani. We quizzed them Even the most basic games have an optimal strategy, so does poker. about a couple of things, but what they, as pro poker commentators’ Couple that with a social aspect think of ‘poker being a sport’, and and peer to peer competition why they choose to be commenand we have a massive sport in tators, were the topics we were the making. The complex learnthe most interested in. ing curve makes it a tough game and the accessibility and aspect Poker being a viable sport of variance makes it attractive Needless to say, tons of money! for just about anyone to try it. Apart from that poker has its own Talking about poker’s aspect of appeal and charisma, not to menvariance, let us talk about poker commentary. Playing poker in real tion a layer of mystery for the un24

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For the uninitiated, by definition, a sport means any form of activity, which through casual or organised participation, aims at expressing or improving yourself, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels. See, so poker has the required infrastructure for being called a sport, except for the lack of support from a governing Indian body! The skill gap between casuals and pros is another clear indicator of poker being a true sport. Simply put, the best remains at the top so long as they do not become complacent, which can be said about any sport. Aditya Wadhwani makes a very understandable statement when he says, “I could hit a perfect ace and win a single point against Roger Federer, but he will destroy me 99% of the time in the sport of tennis. It is the same in poker. There is no shortcut for success and in the

long run there is no luck when you apply yourself, study, practice, and ‘trust the process’. The poker tournament volume The opportunity via all the platforms and events available in Indian poker on the tournament front is bigger than it has ever been. There is plenty of prize money floating about for everyone to share no matter your skill level. Wadhawani says, “I like that a casual player can win on any given day, and that this is not a concern for professionals as they are focused on the long term. So, you do not have to be a pro to get something rewarding from the sport; the reward may not even be monetary, money is just how we keep score.” Amateurs marvel at the plays of top players because it is something that we aspire to ourselves. The appreciation for those high skilled plays is because players have first-handedly experienced and acknowledged what it takes to be ‘that’ good by trying and playing themselves at lower levels. You would say this about poker as you would about any sport! Bringing poker to action and life Those who have watched atleast a few poker streams, would definitely remember the commentators who gave the entire poker hand action a ‘story telling’ vibe. There is no single argument that can be made against the fact that the voice behind the microphone have made poker one of the best games to watch ever.

Natural presenting skills: Born with it or time acquired? Richard swears that he just got extremely lucky to tumble upon poker commentating. He shot to fame in the poker circuit with his YouTube podcast Poker Rajas. He landed his first commentary gig with Mr. Praveen Dwarkanath of the previously known Poker Ninja. However, commentating for the Global Poker League India is said to be his biggest gig which was offered by opportunity Rajat Agarwal of Pokerguru. Talking about his experience, this working classic straight and funny man says, “It was an amazing experience doing commentary, judging, shooting a TV show and working with some of the best Poker players in India. Gutshot and IPC are brands very close to me from their inception and it is always a pleasure to commentate for their events. Commentary is amazing and I enjoy doing it.” Right place, right time, right accent is how it started for Wadhawani. But the main thing that drives this poker player is the positive response and feedback that he gets from his peers for his efforts. It is quite interesting to hear him say, “I’ve never tried to appear as an expert, but I know enough about the game to appreciate the skills, so I guess when I’m commentating and people are playing well, my reactions come out very genuinely which I reckon is relatable.” We agree! Speaking his heart out, he says,

Aditya Wadhwani and we quote, “I personally hate commentators who can see everyone’s cards and then pass sweeping judgements all the time. We tune in to watch the players play, not to hear how they should play. That is why I love having a pro or expert in the booth with me, because they can be called in at an appropriate time to give insight into the high skilled thought processes so that viewers can learn, but not get the impression that they are watching a substandard game and can take away relevant knowledge from those moments. Just like the game itself, commentary needs balance too. And that is what I love about it, I learn myself, viewers get insight but not lectures, we have a bunch of fun, and there’s always something to work on and improve.” This kind of mindset allows commentators to be natural and comfortable without fear of judgement, and over time they better their commentating craft, in terms of entertainment, all the while learning from great players and playing great poker sport at the same time. GUTSHOT

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GAMING

Indian Gaming Moves Out of Science Fiction, Wears the AR Helmet By Mrinal Gujare

ne can see that it has evolved by leaps and bounds globally. We wanted to take a closer look at the technology advancements which enable game developers to take their game a notch higher. Gutshot spoke to Cartic P, Head Business Development, Juego Studios to get insights into how the latest technological upgrades are helping game developers to enhance their product offering and more. Augmented Reality being woven into games The presence of AR began to be 26

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felt in gaming and entertainment industry since 2018-19. They are getting increasingly sophisticated especially the way the components of the digital world are blended into a person’s perception of the real world, not as a simple display of data, but through the integration of immersive sensations, which are perceived as natural parts of an environment. Cartic says there are two things to be considered when we talk about AR—hardware and software. He further cites the exam-

ple of Apple who are coming up with Apple glasses which have generated a lot of interest in the product and will be released by the firm in the coming future. Here, ARKit which is an integrated iOS device camera and motion features to produce augmented reality experiences in your app or game comes into play in the hardware section. For the software, the game development expert cites the example of Pokermon Go which has effortlessly utilised the software. Cartic says earlier on, a character in the

amples of PUBG, Call of Duty and Free Fire to substantiate what he said. The communication must be uninterrupted as it happens very fast.

hit the ad monetisation revenue hard. So, the game developers face an uphill task of making sure that the game is successful and is generating revenue for the company. He draws our attention Portability in games towards the trend of big firms For this we wanted to know from and ad aggregators acquiring Cartic that where is portability analytics and monetisation firms. heading given that Nintendo This is true for Hyper CasuSwitch is portable and has moved al games and with iOS 14, the on from connected screens. The gameplay will certainly change. game would not be able to detect answer is simple - India is thrivIndia, as Cartic states, is driven collision in its path which is now ing on mobile gaming and hence by ad monetisation, so it won’t possible due to the upgraded Nintendo Switch is ruled out. be wrong to say that the hawktechnology. What we need to keep an eye eyed have ad monetisation on We very curiously quizzed this out for is cloud streaming games. their radar. Juego Studio top boss about This is where Stadia and Xbox Virtual Reality’s (VR) impact Game Pass come into the picture. Finally, to draw curtains on our on game development. Cartic conversation with Cartic we explains plainly that today we Casino games asked him about a game he felt do not face the need to have We asked Cartic about casino made major headway and gained hardware devices or trackers as games which his firm Juego a solid ground in the gaming there is a wireless functionality in Studio also develops. He says if market. His answer did not place, which enables gamers to we look at slot machines as an surprise us—PUBG as it mastered make movements. However, VR example, they feel boring. A user the art of showcasing battle pass. still lags when compared to AR. can tap, it will rotate, and the The way this game got everyone In India, VR is ruled out as it is process is pretty much automat- hooked is proof that makers of used sparingly due to high-cost ed. The spinning goes on, but PUBG explored and innovated a hardware. the focus is to enhance the core great deal on this feature. game play. Also, for games like The trend of Mixed Reality poker, there is a different social Western countries are using element attached to it. Casimixed reality—that is the current no games should be trend. The thing to look out for is blended with social Augmented Reality in enterprise features to drive and entertainment. Then we went growth. on to quiz Cartic about voice chats in games. He says that this Next big thing feature in games is matured and Cartic puts his finger on ad monhelps the characters in the game etisation. He says that giants like to strategise better and enhances Apple and Google will offer an the overall gameplay. The game opt-in option for the users, and development expert also cites ex- then track their data. This could GUTSHOT

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GAMING

Tapping the House of Real Money Gaming By Athira Laji tially growing industry that has put India’s name on a global map.

Vivek Singh and Chanchal Kurele co-founded Stick Pool Club

ndia is a booming gaming market, the motivation for innovation is always there in surplus. With initial offerings of cutting edge technologies and convenience to the budding and avid players, Stick Pool Club has now created waves in the gaming sector with the launch of Live Poker. Vivek Singh, Co-founder, Stick Pool Club walks us through the journey of their new launch and how it is bridging the gap between the real and virtual gaming world. 28

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What made you enter the RMG industry? When we entered the real money gaming market, three years ago, the sector was completely untouched. However, we were quite sure that this was the future and the studies conducted too indicated that India would be the hub of online gaming owing to the widespread internet availability, technological advancements, and the rapidly increasing demand of smartphones. So, here we are now as a part of a $3 million exponen-

Interactive poker or integrating an interactive human feature in online poker platforms is one of its kind concepts. What made you come up with such a unique idea and how effective it has been? Our own experience taught us what people missed the most during the lockdown were human and social interaction and entertainment opportunities. We, at Stick Pool Club, always strive to reduce the difference between real-life and virtual life games. So, when the lockdown happened, the idea to provide a face-to-face interaction for our players shaped up; with all the factors of providing live entertainment and thrill of enjoying real poker game was considered. The live poker clubs have an ambience where the players can interact with counterparts and hosts - an important part of gameplay which we often fail to understand. The interactive feature in our app enhances the player experience during game bridging the gap between the real and virtual world. It would not be wrong to say that our players have welcomed this idea with open arms. The player engagement statistics

have shown a growth and a 3X retention rate since the launch of Live Poker. All the gaming platforms, especially the RMGs, must build a 24/7 standby support system more like a ‘trust’ system. How successful were you in doing that? We have a robust player support system with a dedicated team working 24/7 to resolve concerns of the players as early as possible. Our customer support team is laudable as the response to player queries and doubts are immediate. The turnaround time for every query resolved is less than one hour. We are aware that there would be concerns and confusions among the players when technology and money are so intrinsically involved. Thus, we make sure to provide all the convenience to our players on a real-time basis.

behaviour and respond accordingly. Also, through our constant add-on features and innovative gameplay, enhancing player retention and engagement on Live Poker has been quite up to the mark! Our Daily Contests, Jackpots and Mega Tournaments have always seen a high player participation and tough competition. We are ahead of the market standard regarding player retention with our robust data laden strategies to provide players with best entertainment possible. 2020 and 2021 would probably go down in history as the year that has meant a lot to Indian gaming? How was the year for you- in terms of user engagement and revenue?

One of the very few positives that came out of 2020 and 2021 is the booming of Indian gaming sector. It is apparent that the lockdown Our withdrawal and transaction and affordability of 4G internet processing time is one of the low- services along with ever increasest in the industry. The payments ing smartphone users across are processed within seconds and India, has provided a push to the reflected in the user’s wallet or industry with many new players bank account depending on the entering the market segment over choice of payment method opted a very short period. In terms of by the players. In addition to that, user engagement and revenue, we since we have launched Live Pok- have seen a very motivating posier, our players can directly raise tive response from our players. their concerns with our hosts during gameplay and they can be Stick Pool Club being a bootstrap expeditiously resolved. has come ahead of the curve by being EBITDA positive. We underPlayer retention can make and stand that laying the groundwork break a game’s stature! How do is one of the most stringent tasks you make sure that your player at hand and we believe we are retention is always a level up? doing exceptionally well in that We use data to understand user area. We were able to provide

entertainment and relief in dire circumstances and have been able to bring smiles and reduce stress and that makes us take pride in what we do as a team. We would continue doing the best for our players who deserve nothing but the best. The COVID-19 lockdown gave a boom to RMGs. However, there has been a growing number of concerns on addictive behavior patterns among the players. How do you view these concerns? We are already certified as a skill-based real money game by the Government of India. However, the addictive behaviour towards such games is a matter of concern. We do understand our responsibilities towards the masses and players and whenever a player raises concerns regarding the addiction problem we do take appropriate action and help them if deemed necessary. What does the future hold for Stick Pool Club? What should the casual gamers look forward to? We are in a phase of continuous innovation with our goal being reducing the boundaries of fun between the real world casual games and mobile games. We are planning to launch fantasy sports and rummy, in addition to more interactive features for the users. For us, it is about bringing and utilising the world of evolving technology to serve online gamers with the ideas and innovations that leaves a lasting impact. GUTSHOT

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ESPORTS

Esports - The next frontier for OTT Platforms

By Donna Amo

he esports presence in India is undeniable. With gaming emerging as one of the biggest sectors in the entertainment industry, it seems only fitting that competitive gaming tournaments have become more popular. Esports provides a platform for avid gamers to take their gaming skills and apply it in a professional setting. Games like PUBG (now Battlegrounds Mobile India), Free Fire, Clash Royale, Call of Duty, etc. are some of the popular esports titles in the country and have a plethora of Indian gamers specializing in this skill. While the industry is picking up pace in India, it is still at a nascent stage. Despite the potential it possesses, it still has 30

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not quiet achieved sports status like that of cricket and football. However, this is about to change as there is now a shift in the market mainly because of the lockdown. Emerging into the mainstream While esports has been around for quite some time, the COVID-19 lockdown last year resulted in a sudden boom in the industry. According to reports, in 2020, the sector saw a 90 per cent growth in the number of people playing esports compared to the previous year. While business sectors across the world have been virtually brought to a grinding halt by the stay-at-home mandate to prevent the spread of the conta-

Ashwin Suresh gious COVID- 19, the esports or electronic sports industry, on the contrary, is on a roll. The current pandemic, for the most part, has shifted the entire esports setup online. The overall growth of esports industry is phenomenal last year and it is going to be onward & upward in future. Lokesh Suji, Director of Esports

Federation of India commented, “History was written when we got the first ever medal in Asian Games 2018 (demonstration title) for India; our athlete Tirth Mehta won Bronze in Hearthstone and Karan Manganani was placed 4th for Clash Royale.” Along with this, the Indian Olympic Association have also recognised esports as an official sport in India while the Olympic Council of Asia announced the esports would be an official medal event in the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China. OTT Platforms streaming India When OTT platforms first started making an appearance India back in 2010, they were mainly used to catch up on missed television shows and watch movies. Once Netflix forayed its way into the country in 2016, it opened doors for more streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, Voot Select, Zee5, ALTBalaji, and MX Player to make their way into the Indian market. Over the years, OTT platforms have continued to grow and expand their audience base in a drive to increase engagement and bring in more viewership. Many of these OTT platforms branched out into other areas of entertainment apart from their usual offering and gaming was among these verticals that were explored. Entering the Esports Arena While OTT platforms like Disney+ Hotstart, JioTV, AirtelTV, etc. are popular platforms to watch

sports like cricket and football, esports has also started permeating this space. A wide range of streaming platforms have now partnered with esports organisations to start streaming esports

Anirudh Pandita

Lokesh Suji content. Due to this, esports content became available across more broadcast platforms and the esports viewership double to 17 million in 2020. Loco, a live streaming platform owned by Pocket Aces, partnered with Fnatic, a global esports organisation in June 2020, with a plan to bring more exclusive esports content onto its platform. Talking about their collaboration, Anirudh Pandita and Ashwin Suresh, founders of Pocket Aces

said, “We want to provide Indian esports and gaming fans, worldclass gaming entertainment across formats and this partnership will ensure that this shared vision is realized. Fnatic has made a strong commitment to Indian gaming and as the home of Indian gaming and we were delighted to welcome them.” Platforms like JioTV and AirtelTV have jumped on the band wagon as well. Jio partnered with Taiwan based electronic chipmaker Mediatek in a bid to host a 70-days esports tournament for major video game titles which will be broadcasted on JioTV HD Esports channel and YouTube in 2021. In December 2020, Disney+Hotstar hosted The Games Award 2020 on its platform, which is one of the biggest gaming awards in recent times. Other collaborations between esports organisations and OTT platforms include NODWIN Gaming’s partnership with MTV India to stream the show called ‘Esports Mania’ back in December 2019 which has different segments like Esports 360, Match of the Week, World of Esports, and documentaries. SonyLiv also collaborated with NODWIN Gaming in 2019 to stream the ninth edition of the Dota 2 world championship called ‘The International 2019.’ Even in these dark times, the future looks bright for the esports industry which could one day make its mark in the minds and hearts of people. GUTSHOT

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ESPORTS

Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Women in Esports By Amarylisa Gonsalves

one are the days when gaming consoles were the toys only meant for the boys. Like every on-field sport, esports too welcomes women with the utmost zeal. The esports industry is breaking the taboos by giving women an equal and fair chance at playing, competing, and donning various different roles under its umbrella. While it still may be considered a male dominant industry, women make up for games. I was introduced almost one-thirds to esports through of the industry. one of my YouTube On an average, friends.” Whatever women worldintroduces women wide constitute to esports, the fact about 45% of the that they enjoy and mobile gamers. stay hooked to the Talking about India, gaming environment 32 percent of Indishows the changing an mobile gamers are choices, trends, ideologies, Anjali Roy women, and the number and inclusivity of women is rapidly increasing. in the 21st century. Soniya Jha aka Soniya Gaming, initially The Baby Steps a casual gamer, Women’s attraction towards who has now esports can come from varistarted ous sources. Watching a family streaming member or a friend play, peer says, “I’m influence, social media influence, beadvertisements, and the need for coming thrill etc., the reasons could be strong many. Anjali Roy aka Unicorn IB enough says, “I used to play PC games to crush like IGI, CALL OF DUTY, etc. when opponents I was 13 years old. My elder in the esport brother introduced me to these Soniya Jha arena.” 32

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The Factor of Attraction A report suggests that one factor that attracts esports players, both men and women is the socialising factor. “For me, the most attractive thing about esports is the socialising factor. I am a girl who loves to communicate with new people. We can meet people with the same interest and learn from each other. Gaming helped me boost my confidence. Esports really helps an individual learn not only gaming but also helps in mental development, teamwork and leadership qualities. These things help the individual outside the gaming industry as well,” says Yukti Gogia aka MissYUKKI, an entertainment gamer and aspiring esports journalist. Yukti’s comment throws light on another aspect of esports apart from gaming, and that is the opportunity to develop oneself

outside the game. Sitting behind a device screen and proving yourself Yukti Gogia through your gaming skill while competing heads-on with male counterparts, can help women gain the self-confidence which the world may or may not be able to offer women otherwise.

than not get affected by it.” The Multitasking When we discuss Kangana Talukder women esports players, another question that pops up is time management. How do women players juggle between roles and make time for playing? To answer this, Poonam Mondal, Esports and Gaming journalist, and an avid gamer says, “If you want to do something, you create time for that. It can be in the middle of the night, or cooking, or during lunch break. Everything in the will of the person.” Kangana Talukder aka Mystic Ignite, a gamer and student says, “I have been balancing my studies and my gaming career for the last 3 years and honestly all you need is some supportive family members.”

The Counterparts For playing a physical sport like cricket or football, we have separate women’s teams and women specific tournaments, but esports breaks that wall and lets women play alongside men. When asked about the attitude of male players when competing with a female, Swayambika Sachar aka Sway of Team Mahi says, “Some men are really supportive and don’t really react at all and I feel like that’s exactly how it should be, but on the other hand, it’s sad to say but most With esports now gradually people just underestimate us.” being accepted equally as any other sport and being considered When women plays alongside as a real career by millennials, men, they face criticism and rude the day is not far when comments too, but there is women too will nothing stopping these receive support women, who go on from their famto prove themselves ilies and socithrough their game. ety to break Swayambika says, “I gender norms do receive comments for an equal like ‘you belong in the opportunity at kitchen’ but that’s how esports. “More life is I guess, that’s how girls are coming some people are and forward nowthere’s nothing much adays. I think Poonam Mondal I can do about it other women also

have a bright future in esports. I want people to support women and help them grow. The mentalities of people are changing with the passage of time,” says Sakshi Sood. Yukti says, “Women were always able to catch up with men with most of the things, so this will Swayambika Sachar happen in the esports industry as well. In fact, it is already happening. Female content creators are also given equal importance in the industry. To talk about other professions available in the esports industry other than gaming - female content creators can be good casters, managers, journalists etc.” So, it is not just gamers, women are and will continue making their presence felt Sakshi Sood in the auxiliary roles as well. So, with the increasing number of roles women are slipping into in the world of esports, it is safe to say they are the future. GUTSHOT

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ESPORTS

Esports: A ‘Real’ Sport to Flock to By Athira Laji

he growth of esports community in the ‘work at home’ economy has been on a rise! Esports Federation of India has been at the helm of this surplus growth drive. So, we caught up with Lokesh Suji, Director, Esports Federation of India to get a gist of his plans for the future of esports. However, we were in for a treat of knowledge; a man full of commitment, enthusiasm, passion, and determination to take Indian esports to the pinnacle of global gaming industry.

We were the only Asian team and as a sport is must; we are very India’s first ever team to participate optimistic for that to happen. But at MLG LAN event. I would say, the government has started recognising us. In 2019, What exactly makes the esports SEPC (Unit of Ministry of Comsegment a sports segment? merce & Industry) along with ESFI Esports is a competitive video did ‘Nations Cup’ an international game playing, coordinated by difesports championship, which was ferent leagues, where professional India’s first government-backed gamers participate in group gamesports event. Recently, esports ing competitions. We are a sport was also a part of the starred because gamers compete against questions in parliament on 4th Feb each other and the physicality of 2021 and Ministry of Sports tabled responses from our participants its response in favour of esports leads to declaring the winner. and emphasised its representation The business model of esports in Asian Games 2022. Parallelly, we How did you venture so passion- depends majorly on media rights, need serious investments in the ately into gaming? sponsorship, and merchandising form of VC funding, brand sponMy love for gaming goes back to and has no space for gambling or sorships etc. as unlike traditional my school days. The reward for betting involvement. Mostly, essports, esports still needs to be scoring good marks in examinaports companies never charge their developed. tions was game sessions at video players to play their tournaments; game parlours. I used to play instead, they give them massive By starting to break its own games like Contra and Mario, and prize money on winning the same. boundaries, esports have been because I was good at shooting on a rise. What were the signifgames, Contra was my all-time How much of a support have icant breakthroughs in India’s favorite. Eventually, after we got the esports community received esports sphere? Xbox, the journey continued. I have from government? History was written when we also played at MLG (Major League While the esports community does got the first ever medal in Asian Gaming) World Championship for what it needs to be done, govGames 2018 (demonstration title) Call of Duty (New Orleans) in 2015. ernment’s recognition of esports for India; our athlete Tirth Mehta 34

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won Bronze in Hearthstone and Karan Manganani was placed 4th for Clash Royale. This boosted the confidence of Indian esports athletes that they are well capable for winning at the international levels also. Indian gamers setting their footprints on the global esports arena, giving an exposure to tread towards mainstream. The industry from a technology standpoint largely depends on ISP infrastructure, gaming technologies and gaming hardware. Any incremental or even radical change will either enhance the gaming experience or create new opportunities for the industry.

managing to constantly evolve and be more exciting to come up with a plethora of activities for gaming enthusiasts? Esports athletes are not only winning prize monies but lot of them have taken up streaming their live gameplays on platforms like Youtube, Facebook, Rheo, Loco; thus, building a suitable a career and a sustainable revenue source for themselves. AR is another evolution happening on esports front; it’s also interesting to see that lot of video games developed in India have started establishing themselves in esports e.g. WCC3, Scarfall, Hitwicket etc.

We need to build an eco-system just like any other national sports. Recognition of esports by the Ministry of Sports and building an esports policy under the Sports Policy of India is our top priority. Like cricket we need to have esports coaching academy in every nook and corner of India. Once we have this in place, then esports is the only sport which has the ability and potential to outrun cricket in India.

What are Esports Federation of India’s contribution towards elevating e-sports’ position in our country? Esports is now a part of Asian There was a statement from you Games 2022 and once the game in one of your previous intertitles are announced, we will start The esports market had all its views, ‘Esports has the potengetting our teams ready; last time ingredients set to the point to tial to outrun Cricket in India’. we got the bronze and this time record a successful growth in How much of this statement is we would bring home the gold. 2020 – 21. How was the year viable? We are expanding the coaching for esports in terms of user There is no dearth of talent in the and training for our players. Also, engagement and revenue? esports industry - bronze medal in you will also find certified Refer2020 saw a boom in digital enter- Asian Games’18 at Jakarta clearly ees this year which will be India’s tainments. While global business proved India’s capability to estab- first. sectors have been brought to lish a mark on global map. Sadly, As esports is being recognised at a grinding halt by the ongoing we still lose out to a lot of good national and Olympic level, it is COVID-19 situation, the esports, talents because of lack of parenimportant for all to be aware and on the contrary, is on a roll with tal support and recognition – the be aligned to its eco-system like its penetration. Shifting of esmajor bottlenecks. So, what the traditional sports (the federation, ports set-up online, easy access to esports’ players and industry need rankings etc.). We introduced the smartphones and internet resulted is a solid backing and recognition. National Ranking system and in a steep hike in player participation and watch time viewership which struggled to cross a couple of thousands couple of years back and today we are talking in millions – the growth is going to be onward and upward in future. Currently, with a whopping number of 300 million esports enthusiasts, India will be the next powerhouse for esports, be it in terms of online events or streaming, player participations and its viewership. How is India’s esports industry

Yugal (Director, ESFI), Aksay Jagtap & Moin (PES Athletes) and Lokesh Suji (Director, ESFI) at Masters Championship by Asian Esports Federation at Bangkok, Thailand - Jan GUTSHOT

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ESPORTS

National Esports Champion (NESC2019) held at Mumbai

rolled out our National Ranking Scrims for games like Call of Duty-Mobile, Valorant, Free Fire, and will be adding for more. Though like any other traditional sports, esports still has uniqueness of its own and will also have its World Rankings someday; with the same intend, ESFI took this initiative.

are confusing others also); more so people are trying to assume and make their own definitions/ understandings as per their own whims and fancies. What we need to understand is a) playing fantasy, teen patti, poker, rummy and online gaming etc. is NOT esports, it’s “igaming” b) playing any kind of video games is not ESFI also works closely with other esports; there are only select fellow National Esports Federgenres of video games which fall ations of South Asia, and will under category of esports: jointly launch South Asia Cham- • Real-time Strategy (RTS): Clash pionship, which will give our ath- Royale etc. letes an international exposure. • Fighting: Tekken7 We will be working more closely • First-person Shooter (FPS): with the game publishers and Counter Strike, Call of Duty etc. developers as they are the key to • Multiplayer Online Battle Arena esports industry. (MOBA): League of Legends, Arena of Valor, DOTA2 etc. Playing esports comes with a • Sports: FIFA, PES, Asphalt societal concern -not labelled as a ‘sport’ but as ‘gambling’ First and foremost, for esports to and the addictive behavior to- grow in India is to have correct wards such games. How do you understanding on this subject view these concerns? by stakeholders including govUnlike rest of the world, there is ernment, media, VCs, brands etc. lot of confusion in India regardThe recognition of esports by the ing esports. Some are genuinely Sports ministry & Indian Olympic confused, and others want to in- Association will help in building tentionally remain confused (and the confidence of the parents too. 36

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In the wake of a strong demand and increasing monetization aspect, what kind of significant opportunities are in store for the future Indian gaming industry? ESFI will promote, encourage, organise, educate, train, and control the esports sector in India. To build a good talent pool, we would be giving visibility to the underdog players/teams. Recently, we also started with Female Ranking scrims and are already working on training and collegiate programs. This is an opportune time for the Indian game developers to build esports titles based on Indian culture and ethos. Opportunities, though immense, are still in a very nascent stage. Just like sports, you can build a career out of pro esports athlete, a live streamer, caster, analyst, coach, team owner, esports technologies, event operator and so on. However, esports is a clean slate now, a lot needs to be structurally written on it to make India the next powerhouse of esports.

FA N TA SY S P O R T S

Lockdown buddy: Skill-Dominant Fantasy Sports By Athira Laji

n undeniable fact in fantasy gaming sports is that they have kept fans at the edge of their seats. The consumption of their favorite sport has turned passive viewers into active participants, especially during the lockdown. After having gauged the online gaming market, Mr. Deb Mukherjee, Founder, Wisdom Capital, as a part of his initiative to generate income for the unemployed people affected by COVID-19, launched Wishgames 11, an income-generating online fantasy app platform. We caught up with him to talk about Wishgames11, and it turns out he is far more of a philanthropist behind all that capital mind! How and when did the idea of venturing into online gaming shape up for Wisdom Group? We have a deep, keen interest in coming up with business propositions that cater qualitative services to the people. People have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and are in a highly grave financial crisis. At Wisdom Group, we try to build a mechanism that can ensure income generation for the long run. One thing that inspires me the most is to find opportunities at every end while understanding people’s needs.

queries on a points system, wallet balance, withdrawal, how to play, match points, rewards, and getting started with Wishgames11.

With Wishgames11, we give an opportunity to people to earn while playing online games in real-time. What makes Wishgames11 unique in comparison to other fantasy gaming portals? Wishgames11, a community-driven gaming application, offers lifelong earning opportunities while playing along with your favourite sports stars. One can also play other traditional Indian sports such as Kabaddi and Kushti in real-time. The user can join either as a player or as a coach – both have several benefits such as bonus income, referral, etc. How successful was Wishgames11 in building a 24/7 standby support system for its players? Trust is essential, so there is a dedicated customer support team that works 24/7 to assist users. They provide complete assistance on managing profiles, addressing

When it comes to user engagement and revenue, how were the 2020 and 2021? The fantasy gaming industry was valued at 6,500 crore in 2019 and is likely to touch 18,700 crores by 2022. Presently, ten crore people play fantasy gaming in India, and 80 crore people are spectators. These numbers would increase multifold by the end of this year, indicating 14x growth in the revenue. We work with a determined approach to offer a seamless user experience, like no one else did so far. A lot of marketing overdrive happens during IPL. What are Wishgames11’s marketing strategies to grab a larger share of the RMG pie? More than budget, I feel that the marketing approach needs to be correct. It is essential to strike a chord with users’ time to time. The passion for cricket is at its peak during IPL, owing to its extravaganza. Apart from releasing coupons randomly, we promote our brand via a referral user base. Coupons released, thus, welcome a good number of users. Word of mouth GUTSHOT

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FA N TA SY S P O R T S

or spread-a-word marketing by a known person/entity gains us more reliability. We offer first-time users an opportunity to earn more than what they receive as a welcome bonus. This helps us gain customer loyalty and the trust of the new users, as they need not invest money but can earn a lot by being regular Wishgames11 users. What are the measures taken to ensure player retention? Player retention is vital, and for them to reach the next level, several initiatives are being taken. I emphasise harnessing the power of social media to connect and share achievements which would make the player more determined and confident to play again. Right from welcoming new users of Wishgames11 on social media to sharing the name of the high-scorer user on these platforms, we make sure to appreciate the users. The second measure is a reward system for users; we aim to keep the users motivated and keep up the player retention figure. Your mission says, “A major part of our goal is to facilitate job creation in the fantasy gaming industry.” Can you please shed light on it? We offer a chance to earn money and other rewards by using their strategy-building skills to create and play a match. When a user joins as a coach, he/she will earn a lifetime bonus income on every closing. The user will receive a share in business income and up to 10 per cent cashback bonus and referral income 38

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every time a new user joins us through a referral code. Features that make lifelong earning a reality are a)the chance to earn referral bonuses by referring Wishgames11 to family and friends b)the ‘Bonus Income’ plan for Coaches allows lifelong earning opportunity per the company’s earning and c) coaches are eligible for a cashback of up to 10 per cent in their business NPCI’s ban on UPI transactions accounts on every wallet recharge. below INR 50 on gaming platforms has caused quite a stir in How difficult is it to have a the industry. How do you view seamless online gaming operation that move? in India in the wake of an appar- The decision taken by the NPCI will ent lack of legal support? hit the fantasy gaming industry Fantasy gaming for Indian laws at large. We witnessed a surge in means an activity that yields results users, especially during IPL – now based on skills. But because it is suspended! Ban on low-ticket size the subject matter of each state, transactions is a big blow, and talks residents of Assam, Odisha, Telare underway to resolve this issue. angana, Sikkim, and Nagaland are A low-ticket size attracts people to not allowed to come on board with participate in fantasy gaming. Wishgames11. We, being law-abiding citizens, do not compromise What does 2021 have in store for with the rules of the land and fantasy sports? operate fantasy gaming businesses Football lovers always had a chance by fair means. to enjoy gaming with fantasy premier league. But, a hollow space The debate over skills and the game emerged in the gaming industry of chance is over now. It is essential after the end of super selector in to understand that as a democratic cricket. Fantasy gaming filled this system, the Central and State Govvoid and offered a platform to ernments have their rights segreexperience the same passion for the gated, and prohibition of any game game again. Ten years ago, fantasy or industry is a state affair. I have gaming was popular in western complete faith in the system and countries, with people understandrespect their decisions. However, we ing, playing, and earning through would keep elaborating the advanit. India is now on the same page tages of fantasy gaming - it creates as the rest of the world as people employment opportunities and invest money into fantasy gaming. helps in revenue generation while With the rising popularity of this ensuring that the operations will be game, people will get involved in this conducted by fair means. industry emotionally in the future.

FA N TA SY S P O R T S

Fantasy Sports Beats the IPL 2021 Heat

By Dwayne Fernandes

hen IPL 2020 came around after a delay of nearly five months last year, the organisers knew what they were getting into. The BCCI was operating at a 50 per cent revenue, but everything was set - the tournament being played within a strict bio-secure bubble in UAE. IPL 2021 was a rushed

affair, and everyone may not have been prepared for contingencies. Right enough, the dreaded call of the season being ‘postponed’ came about, along with the fact that this season will not be back anytime soon. This time, companies involved with the cash-rich league would not have foreseen the season being slashed short, only 29 matches into the com-

petition. The BCCI proclaimed that the IPL held in 2020 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earned 4,000 crores without any attendance. The IPL 2021 was expected to achieve a similar profit for BCCI. With 31 matches remaining to be played, the BCCI is currently losing more than half its revenue. The world of fantasy sports GUTSHOT

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FA N TA SY S P O R T S

began with creating ripples in the pond and rose as waves in the sea. IPL formed a big part of the sports sector in India and the fantasy gaming platform. Users creating teams on fantasy sports invested money and emotions, too, engaging with the sport at a much deeper level.

lapped it up, thronged to the app to live up the excitement once again, in large numbers with a vengeance as if to rebel at the virus, the lockdown, and depression all around.”

Deb Mukherjee, Founding Director, Wishgames11, believes that the momentary suspension of IPL Every year, fantasy sports com2021 is just a blip in the world of panies bump up their spending online gaming. Industry statistics by 5x, 10x, or even more during from McKinsey, EY and other the IPL, expecting a whole season market research companies testito take place. An example would fy that this sector has enormous be the countless commercials we potential in the long run. In consaw of Ranveer Singh and Sourav nection with future implications Ganguly promoting ‘1 Mein 1 of the pandemic on the online Crore Jeeto’ on My11Circle. Angaming industry, Mukherjee statother example would’ve been the ed, “ Disruptions are not a major ingenious series of Dream11 ad concern for us looking from the films involving Shikhar Dhawan, perspective of online gaming in Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, the long run”. More importantly, and others. Let’s not forget about people are worried about saving KL Rahul dancing when he beats lives right now, and most sectors his colleagues on Gamezy! are very accommodative of this fact.” With so much money being pumped into the season, the An undeniable fact - IPL will league and their associates indeed resume after the pandemwould’ve got a severe blow to the ic. We believe that India’s growth abdomen due to IPL suspension. story is not unknown to the However, fantasy sports operaworld, Indian markets will contors seem unperturbed about the solidate in the coming years, and development. Gutshot reached online gaming, which will become out to Arvind Kumar, CEO of fan- a considerable contributor to the tasy sports brand Rotobash, who success story of India, will see an said, “Full credit goes to BCCI to exponential rise as well. There are get the IPL going in these diffihigh chances that online betting cult times, offering great respite will become legal in India soon -a to many cricket lovers. The coun- cherry on the cake. try-wide lockdown had got many Speaking about revenue, post the to write off IPL ‘21, but we were IPL cancellation, Mukherjee said, lucky to get what we got.” It was “ Wishgames11, recently, started all a bonus, and fantasy lovers its journey. For now, we are not 40

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worried about getting our knees scraped. We have already started working on upgrading the technological processes.” As for the rest of the gaming companies, they will indeed feel the heat on their profits, but they too would be back on their feet on account of the potential the fantasy gaming sector has to offer. However, keeping aside the economic losses of IPL 2021, the good votes and praises still go out to BCCI for coming to the rescue of all the stakeholders keeping in mind their health, wellbeing, and safety. “The tournament must now be suspended, and everyone should back to their families and loved ones in these trying times,” said the BCCI, while also adding that it will do everything in its power to arrange for the secure and safe passage of the participants in IPL 2021. In a bid to prove it can handle major tournaments amidst the pandemic, the BCCI may lose the rights to host the 2021 T20 World Cup in India, which was scheduled for October/November this year. Regardless, we take things as they come. For now, the millions at home in lockdown are engaging with online games like poker, rummy, and other casual games, which means multi-gaming companies like Games 24X7 (My11Circle and Rummy Circle) will be quick to adapt to circumstances!

RUMMY

Rummy takes the Influential High Road to Popularity

By Jochebed Mendes

sport, a game, a dessert for entertainment and a blooming trend in India - Rummy is not a high-roller sport from the west but rather a traditional game from the 16th century originating from Spain originally. Rummy is more than just a game of skill, a deck of cards and a few fellow players in recent times. It is a part of one of India’s biggest industries – online gaming sector, attract-

ing a total of $544 million in investments from August 2020 – January 2021, as quoted by ‘The Week’ Magazine.

India’s skill gaming industry is suffering from the same byzantine set of state-by-state laws and regulations.

The rocky path Rummy, even after being a contributor to Indian economy, still must battle numerous prejudices and rumors with a lot of states already imposing a ban. The Online Rummy Federation (TORF) has time and again appealed to government that

Social media marketing initiative for rummy Having fun and making money can now go together, thanks to the emergence of real money prizes in online gaming which has changed the meaning of productivity and entertainment. To make it crystal clear to the GUTSHOT

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RUMMY

people that rummy is not just another gambling game but a skill-based one with a lot on its platter, rummy and gaming companies are on all in for aggressive marketing. According to GroupM, it is said that the digital media will pocket 30 percent of ads spent this year, with Online Rummy being the biggest contributor. “The Rummy industry was at Rs. 2000 crore last year and is expected to grow by 34 percent every year”, said Hardik Parekh, Director, Sachar Gaming. Influencers influencing for market Influential marketing aims to bring out competitiveness of the game among the players and invites players from all over India to join the platform and show off their rummy skills. As almost all the gaming apps are dealing with real money, users will be varying before they put 42

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in their cash and play the game in a new app. If you are looking for an invariable way to seize the attention of your ideal audience, then this is where influential marketing come handy. Gaming company, Games24x7 unveiled a new digital influencer campaign last year for its gaming platform, RummyCircle. They partnered with Bollywood artists, Aparshakti Khurana, and Varun Sharma, Vir DasManjot Singh for the campaign in the North Indian market. Avik Das Kanungo, Director of Games24x7, Avik Das Kanungo, proclaimed that the company is always delighted to collaborate with popular B-town celebrities and influencers for the depiction of enthusiastic online rummy. As the industry gears up for a bigger push in the market, in-

fluencers like Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Divyendu Sharma, Amy Jackson, Rahul Vaidya and many other Rummy players and ambassadors will continue to influence the online gaming audience with their endorsement ads, engagement in the game or even acting out the game in movies, music videos and various other social media platforms. Users depend on credible people like influencers. As the gaming apps are dealing with real money, the users will fluctuate between apps; so, when a trusted endorser has endorsed the cash game app, the user’s trust increases, thus avoiding hesitance to make first time deposits. rummy is a super exciting and fast-paced game to play as it needs you to think on your feet while in the game to master the moves and become a champion.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Poker Longest poker game ever played – 8 years at Bird

Cage Theater,

Arizona

10 THINGS

1 2 3 4 5 6 78 Poker, reportedly originated from a 16th century Persian card game known as

As Nas

The first WSOP tournament was held at

Texas Hold’em is touted to be

The Binion’s Horseshoe.

as a thinking

man’s game.

Johnny Moss is considered ‘The Grand Old Man of Poker’

Four kings in a deck of cards represent four great rulers from the past a. King of Spades: David, King of Israel b. King of Clubs: Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia c. King of Hearts: Charlemagne, King of France and the first Holy Roman Emperor d. King of Diamonds: Roman Caesar Augustus.

Former U.S. President Richard Nixon funded his first run for political office with $6,000 he’d won in 1946

Doyle Brunson won the WSOP two years in row with the exact same cards

9 10

IIMs and IITs use poker to teach students competitive strategy

Deck of cards actually originated in China in the 9th century. GUTSHOT

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INDIAN NEWS

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2021