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Tag: Fantasy Sports

  • Ali Fazal & goons abduct Harsha Bhogle in Fantasy Akhada’s new IPL campaign

    Ali Fazal & goons abduct Harsha Bhogle in Fantasy Akhada’s new IPL campaign

    Mumbai: With a host of fantasy cricket platforms heating up the battle in lead up to the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), homegrown fantasy sports platform Fantasy Akhada kick-started its IPL 2022 push with a 360-degree campaign titled #KhelTumharaAkhadaHumara. The quirky brand campaign starring cricket presenter Harsha Bhogle and actor Ali Fazal showcases the fervour and gusto with which these games are played in e-sports communities.

    Shot by Pranav Harihar Sharma, conceptualised by Pippip Media and executed in tandem with Wirality Media, the first film of the campaign hilariously showcases the kidnapping of ‘voice of cricket’ Harsha Bhogle by an enraged cricket fanatic and a local goon, played by Ali Fazal. Fazal offers to release Bhogle from captivity under one condition: “The latter teach him the nitty-gritty of the fantasy cricket game so he can salvage his hurt pride in his local gaming community.”

     

     

    The campaign launch was preceded by a quirky teaser on social media a day prior, to build up interest levels and ignite curiosity among viewers about the alleged ‘abduction.’ The brand then unfurled a short video on digital after generating adequate buzz via the teaser, before finally launching the TVC on the opening day of the T20 League.

     

     

    “The rollout of the country’s most awaited cricket tournament has undoubtedly set the stage for massive participation in fantasy sports contests,” Fantasy Akhada founder Sumit Kumar Jha said. “Our campaign is poised to inspire cricket fans to experience the first-hand thrill of forming their own teams. The launch of the #KhelTumharaAkhadaHumarateaser is already driving conversations and has been a big hit in the Indian and global markets. We are confident that this will also encourage more first-time users to participate in fantasy sports.”

    As per a joint report published by Deloitte & FIFS in February 2022, 50 per cent of the users in the fantasy sports industry come from tier-2 and 3 cities. The gaming platform integrates both the rural and the urban Indian populace via the campaign.

    “Looking at the 150 per cent growth in CEA during the 14th IPL season, we are eyeing for a 100 per cent growth in our user base this season,” Jha added.

    In addition to fantasy cricket, the gaming platform also offers multiple gameplay options for fantasy football and fantasy kabaddi.

  • My11Circle joins Lucknow IPL Team as official Title Sponsor

    My11Circle joins Lucknow IPL Team as official Title Sponsor

    Mumbai: Games24x7’s fantasy sports platform, My11Circle has signed up with RP-Sanjiv Goenka group’s newly announced Lucknow franchise as the official title sponsor. The three-year deal will see the My11Circle logo featured on the Lucknow team jersey, as it begins its IPL journey this year.

    “We are excited to announce our first IPL team sponsorship and the Lucknow team is a perfect fit as it represents the heartland of the country where cricket fans have ardently supported the sport and now get an opportunity to support their own team,” said Games24x7 co-founder Bhavin Pandya. “We launched My11Circle in 2019 and within a short span, it has emerged as one of the most popular fantasy sports platforms in the country. We witnessed a 100 per cent growth last year primarily because of our ability to connect with the discerning Indian cricket fan, where our campaigns have celebrated and rewarded their fervor and skill. We believe that this partnership will further strengthen our engagement with millions of cricket fans across India.”

    The team will fight their first IPL game this year, with Gautam Gambir as the mentor, and former Zimbabwean cricket coach, and former cricketer Andy Flower as head coach. “We are delighted to have My11Circle as our Principal Team Sponsor. We thank them for the faith they have shown in our new franchise and are confident that this will be a winning partnership,” said RPSG Sports CEO Raghu Iyer.

  • GUEST COLUMN: The future of Fantasy Sports Market in India

    GUEST COLUMN: The future of Fantasy Sports Market in India

    Mumbai: India has been a sports-loving nation. With Cricket, Football, and Kabaddi as the most sought-after sports, we’ve got thousands across the country who’d swear on their love for a good game. This has been one of the reasons for the emergence of fantasy sports in India. It gives the sports enthusiasts a chance to draft their teams with the best of players.

    Going to a sports match or sitting glued to the TV is something that every sports enthusiast in the country has done. Moreover, every fan has a set of opinions or expertise in the game. That’s where Fantasy Sports steps in. It gives the users the excitement of real-time action, a first-hand thrill of participating in future tournaments, and cash rewards if they win.

    With the increasing popularity of fantasy gaming leagues and frequent contests, fantasy sports enthusiasts are growing by the day. The number of fans capitalising on their sports knowledge has gone up 25X in the last ten years, and more potential players are waiting to join the trend.

    Along with a massive craze for sports, digitalisation is another factor that resulted in the emergence of fantasy sports platforms. More tech-savvy millennials in India are participating in fantasy sports tournaments. In fact, the past decade has witnessed a growth of around 700 per cent in the fantasy sports market.

    The online fantasy gaming platforms have allowed a massive chunk of sports aficionados to use their understanding of the game and play their role in online fantasy sports events. While the Cricket-frenzy in the Indian audience is well known, these platforms allow the users to explore other segments. With the introduction of new-age strategies in Fantasy Cricket, most platforms have seen a massive engagement of enthusiasts, with them becoming a part of the Indian T20 League and other tournaments. These platforms have started catering to a large audience, and are now expanding their offerings to league sports, even for Football, Kabaddi, and Basketball. Establishing a link between technology and the sports ecosystem, users can now be a part of multiple sporting events. The shift has been received well by sports enthusiasts increasing engagement in real-time sports that need attention.

    Currently, over 20 million people play fantasy games in India, and the number is estimated to reach 150 million by 2022. With so many people turning to fantasy sports, the market segment is expected to accelerate in the coming years. One of the reasons for the massive participation is the user-friendly fantasy gaming applications and increased internet penetration across the country. Besides gaining traction amongst the community keen on sports, the sector has seen large revenue growths too. In 2020, the industry generated a revenue of $3.4 million. In fact, the fantasy sports segment is estimated to reach $ 3.7 billion by the year 2024.

    With the potential of growth, fantasy sports platforms in India follow specific guidelines and principles as a part of the ‘game of skill’ category. It involves strategy, understanding, expertise, and knowledge by the participants. As a rapidly growing tech-driven industry, the market segment attracts a substantial number of investors. A report by NITI Aayog approximates that the fantasy sports industry has the potential to attract FDI of more than Rs 10,000 crore over the next few years.

    The sports ecosystem has seen a massive shift with the ongoing digitisation. The increase in the use of smartphones has enabled most sports enthusiasts to enjoy the thrill and excitement of sporting tournaments with fantasy sports. While increasing the knowledge of multiple sporting events, fantasy gaming platforms have witnessed a hiked participation in fantasy sports leagues and contests related to Cricket, Football, and Kabaddi, to name a few.

    Besides this, with a massive population of sports enthusiasts, surging demand in fantasy sports, and ever-evolving advancements in technology, India is set to grow rapidly in the online fantasy sports segment.

    (Amit Purohit is the founder of Fantasy Akhada. The views expressed in the column are personal and Indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to them.)

  • Dream11 & Puma team up for first athleisure collection

    Dream11 & Puma team up for first athleisure collection

    KOLKATA: Fantasy sports platform Dream11 has joined forces with the global sports brand Puma to launch its first athleisure collection in India. The two sporting powerhouses have co-created an exclusive range under the label – PumaxDream11. The merchandise assortment includes t-shirts, flip-flops and caps and will be available online on FanCode Shop, at exclusive Puma stores and Puma.com.

    With over 100 million users, Dream11 will now be able to connect with sports fans offline while tapping into the athleisure market in India, which is growing at a rate of 20-25 per cent annually. The first collection was launched just in time for IPL 2021. The collaboration also includes an autumn-winter range which will exclusively be available during the upcoming T20 World Cup hosted in India. The designs under the PumaXDream11 collection are branded under the campaign theme ‘Dream It. Own It’.

    Dream11 & Dream Sports co-founder and CEO Harsh Jain said, “We are excited to launch our first athleisure collection along with Puma, which shares our belief in making sports better for all. We are certain that this collaboration will strengthen Dream11’s offline brand affinity and loyalty. We are sure that this sporty collection will resonate with both our 100 million users and Puma brand champions.”

    Puma India and southeast Asia managing director Abhishek Ganguly added, “Dream11 and Puma share a common vision to grow the culture of sports in India. As pioneers of fantasy sports in the country, they understand the pulse of sports enthusiasts and have been powering this ecosystem by giving fans a platform to follow, track and actively engage with the game. We are happy to partner with Dream11 to launch their first athleisure collection.”

  • Dream11 gets funding of Rs 719 crore from Tencent Holdings

    Dream11 gets funding of Rs 719 crore from Tencent Holdings

    MUMBAI: Chinese social media and gaming giant Tencent Holdings has invested $100 million (around INR 719 crore) in Mumbai-based Dream 11 Fantasy according to VCCircle.

    Dream11 had been in advanced stages of discussion with Tencent about raising funds from the Chinese behemoth since April 2018. Further, media reports at the time had also indicated that Tencent may invest close to $100 million in Dream11 at a pre-money valuation of around $400-500 million.

    It has also been reported that Tencent has been planning to invest close to $200 million in gaming ventures in India. The Chinese firm has also, in the past, held talks with two social gaming companies – Octro and MoonFrog Labs for potential acquisition or investment opportunities.

    The report in VCCircle quotes an unnamed executive of Dream11 confirming that the transaction with Tencent Holdings has been completed.

    In March 2018, the company roped in cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni as brand ambassador and signed a deal with Star India to be the associate sponsor of the eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a twenty-twenty cricket tournament.

    According to the company’s spokesperson, Dream11 has around 41 million users and is set to grow to 100 million users by 2019. “Our goal is to create awareness around fantasy sport in the country and keep getting more of India’s 800 million sport fans to play fantasy sport on Dream11,” the spokesperson added.

    The investment deal by Tencent is the biggest transaction in the India gaming industry and makes Dream11 the most expensive and highly valued online gaming company in the country.

  • Fantasy Sports affirmed as a ‘Game of Skill’ in india

    Fantasy Sports affirmed as a ‘Game of Skill’ in india

    The Indian Federation of Sports Gaming (IFSG), India’s first industry body formed for protecting consumer interests through the self-regulation of the Sports Gaming industry, has unveiled India’s first ever report on the ‘Legality of Fantasy Sports in India’.

    An initiative of the Sports Law and Policy Centre, the legal report brings contributions from experts in sports and gaming laws from India’s leading law firms like Nishith Desai Associates, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co. & LawNK.  This report delves into the skill element of Fantasy Sports games, need for self-regulation by online Sports Gaming companies, the use of third-party intellectual property in Fantasy Sports games and the recent developments in the Supreme Court of India relating to the determination of Dream11’s Fantasy Sports format as a game of predominant skill.

    On unveiling the report, CEO of Dream11, Chairman of IFSG & Co-Founder, Harsh Jain said, “We welcome the Court’s judgements which legitimise our format of online fantasy sports gaming in India as a ‘Game of Skill’. As we continue to grow exponentially, we believe that self-regulation is the way ahead for the online gaming industry. Committed to this, IFSG aims to collaborate with all stakeholders to protect the interests of Indian users by implementing best practices for responsible gaming throughout the industry.”

    On the launch of the legal report, SLPC, Principal Lawyer – LawNK & Researcher, Nandan Kamath said, “The recent developments in the courts are an encouraging sign for the Fantasy Sports ecosystem in India as it shows the willingness of Indian Courts to carefully and favourably evaluate game formats on criteria of predominance of skill. The SLPC report is a collaborative effort by leading law practitioners which aims to document the state of the law relating to online Fantasy Sports gaming and lend clarity to the industry. We hope this empowers the entrepreneurial spirit and benefits and protects the interests of the wide variety of stakeholders involved with Fantasy Sports games, including operators, fans, players and governing bodies.”

    The Fantasy Sports ecosystem has been growing exponentially in India over the last few years. From 20 lakh users in 2016, the base has grown to over 2 crore Fantasy Sports users in 2018, with estimated projections of over 10 crore Indian sports fans playing Fantasy Sports by 2020. India now has 56 Fantasy Sports operators, with 2017 alone seeing 30 new entities entering this exciting space. Popular sporting tournaments such as the IPL, NBA, ISL, PKL and others are increasingly relying on fantasy sports as their primary tool for fan engagement.