Market focus: India
A two-minute briefing on the egaming market in the world's second most populous nation, where companies including new Playtech and Scientific Games partner Sportech are hoping to capitalise on recent investments...
THE remote Himalayan province of Sikkim in India passed the Sikkim Onlne Gaming (Regulation) Act in July of 2008.
According to local sources, at least three licences to offer online sportsbetting throughout India are set to be handed out shortly to local companies, thought to include local lottery provider Future Gaming and the Indian arm of technology company Agilsys Managed Services.
While Ladbrokes confirmed discussons were ongoing about partnering with one of these to provide the plaform, Betfair and William Hill confirmed only their interest in the market itself.
Chief executive of 888, Gigi Levy, however said that although they hadn’t been been involved for some time, “if someone called tomorrow, we will be interested.”
Egaming gross win: currently US$65-US$70m,
Gross win: could reach US$240m-US$250m by 2012 under partial state regulation
Population: 1.2bn
Broadband penetration: 5.2%