India, May 2024: It has come to light that G2G.News, a gaming news website launched in May 2021, is using its platform to create bias against foreign players in the iGaming space by curating negative campaigns against international iGaming companies. The website is controlled by G2G Technologies Private Limited, which saw a change in its Directors earlier this year.
Manoj Jain, who was a director at G2G Technologies till Jan 2024, is also a director of various entities related to Delta Corp, one of India’s largest casino chains and the company behind the poker app, Adda52. While the new Director, Jagdish Prasad Gupta, does not relate to the casino chain, he does owns Essensol Ventures Private Limited, a company involved in hospitality according to company filings, along with Manoj Jain.
The convoluted history of the publication ownership becomes important in light of the pattern of news that the publication is carrying. Over the last 3 years, the publication has taken a stance against ‘illegal betting apps’ and states that ‘betting is illegal in India’. The smear campaign started in 2022, with stories terming international companies like Dafabet, 1xBet etc – illegal.
The Government of India implemented GST on real money gaming companies in 2023, and issued clarifications on what shall constitute a “permissible online real money game”. It was defined as an online real money game verified by an online gaming self-regulatory body or an SRO. Later, in 2024, the government decide to become a regulator for all gaming (including real money Gaming companies). The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is preparing a framework for permitting and certifying online games involving money.
G2G takes a stance of being a watch guard of the industry – which would be very welcome – if it was unbiased and factual. A majority of the content of the publication is particularly against international entities like 1Win, 1XBet, Parimatch, and Bet365. The website continues to term all betting apps ‘illegal’ and misleads its readers by flatly stating ‘betting is illegal in India’.
The website also states that these international players are operating in India, whereas most of these companies did not have operations in India, and users were able to access the apps via the PlayStore or Apple Store – like one could download any app, unless it is specifically banned in the country.
The publication also continues to promote its parent company’s homegrown brand, Adda52 that has been around since 2012. However, the same stance does not seem to apply to Adda52, its homegrown brand which has been operational since 2012. Nor does it apply to Delta Corp, which is arguably one of the largest Indian companies in the gambling sector.
Delta Corp Ltd. has received GST notices for the period from 2017 to 2022. The company has contested these allegations in court, with one case dismissed by the High Court of Bombay and another still pending in the High Court of Calcutta.
The publication also cites exclusive news and ‘letters’ written to various government members – which leading publications surprisingly do not mention or have access to. The close connect between the publication and its parent entity, and the fact that the publication refuses to remain neutral as a news website poses serious threat to the required open conversations to faciliate the development of online betting industry in India.
The real-money gaming sector has seen a rise in users since COVID-19. Betting, in various forms, has existed even prior to that. In order to ensure the safety of consumers, it is important to establish clear parameters of operations, and enable all companies – Indian and International – to operate within the framework of the law.
Many international gaming companies can help build a conducive ecosystem for iGaming in India by bringing investments through legal FDI routes, thereby churning the cycle to further job creation and revenue growth. Furthermore, these platforms have licences to operate in various countries and promote responsible gaming practices through technological innovations. Most of the platforms incorporate features such as KYC verification of players, built-in anti-addiction cut-offs and other responsible gaming support systems.
The recent scrutiny of G2G News raises significant concerns about the website’s content strategy and its potential influence on public perception. The publication’s agenda of being the watchdog of the industry would be very welcome (and needed), if it was fair and unbiased.
The sector needs to be regulated, and India needs policies and support systems like mandatory rehabilitation systems, anti-addiction therapy and more. Such systems are mandatory in UK and other regions, wherein gambling is considered legal and ensure that people have a safe access to entertain themselves.
Ensuring fair competition and balanced reporting is essential for the healthy growth of India’s iGaming industry. Publications like G2G slanting narratives against competitors and foreign online gaming platforms give rise to unfair competition practices thereby giving an unwelcoming sign to new players, entrepreneurs and developers.
