By Partnership between AIGF and Arthur D. Little Bears Fruit
The partnership between the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) and global management consulting company Arthur D. Little has led to the recent launch of an independent compliance audit procedure for online games. The audit methodology looks into seven important parameters and is intended to further strengthen the self-regulation process provided by the AIGF.
The seven criteria that form the basis of the new audit procedure include consumer verification standards, player protection, responsible gaming, financial integrity, conflict redressal mechanisms, advertising and promotion policies, and legal and gaming compliance.
“With this certification, we plan to support our federation and member stakeholders in setting concrete foundations for the self-regulatory landscape,” says AIGF CEO Roland Landers.
Indian platforms that provide skill-based, RMG and online casino games, esports and fantasy sports are governed by a self-regulatory model which validates platforms through various tests in order to guarantee a safe and responsible gaming experience to players.
According to ADL Managing Partner and CEO for India and South Asia Barnik Chitran Maitra, the new audit process is the right step to support the online gaming sector and it helps pave the way for India to turn into a global gaming destination.
MPL is the First to Pass the Validation Audit
India’s second gaming unicorn MPL (Mobile Premier League) is the first platform to undertake the new audit and get the AIGF charter compliance validation after successfully fulfilling the seven criteria process.
“MPL has successfully abided by all the parameters set for this compliance audit and has been certified as AIGF Skill Games Charter Compliant,” commented Landers. “This continues to highlight MPL as a responsible business and is a testament to them introducing and using industry-leading consumer safeguard standards.”
The AIGF and ADL Partnership was Announced in August
In a move to strengthen gaming self-regulatory mechanisms in India, in August 2021 AIGF announced it had attracted Arthur D. Little as its skill games compliance partner. ADL, the world’s oldest consultancy company dedicated to improving processes and products, was established in 1886 in Boston, USA, by Arthur Dehon Little and Roger B. Griffin. Currently, the company has a global reach and is one of the most renowned management consultancies worldwide
“AIGF is pleased to onboard Arthur D. Little as our Skills Games compliance partner. With the help of ADL’s expertise in understanding changing business ecosystems, we aim to support the overall online gaming industry of India,” said AIGF CEO commenting on the formed partnership.
“Moving forward, this exercise would help both the federation and the member stakeholders in laying down industry best practices and setting concrete foundations for the self-regulatory landscape. At the end of this exercise, the members of AIGF will receive a certificate (subject to compliance) which will be proof of their compliance with AIGF’s self-regulatory skill gaming charter,” Landers added.
“By partnering with AIGF on instituting the Skills Games Charter, Arthur D. Little is excited to support the growth of skill-based online gaming from its present annual revenues of around USD 1 Billion to potentially USD 8-10 Billion of annual revenues by 2030 as India seeks to become a formidable global force in online gaming,” commented ADL’s Maitra.
A Fast-Growing Market
A recent report by another global management advisory company Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and venture capital firm Sequoia estimates the CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of India’s gaming market at 37 percent for the Fiscal Year of 2018-2019 and 39 percent for the following FY of 2019-2020, outpacing all other Media and Entertainment sub-sector. The revenues generated by the desi gaming industry for 2020 are estimated at $1.8 billion.
“Now more than ever it has become imperative that the industry’s self-regulation practices should be recognized and endorsed by the relevant authorities so that it encourages additional investments leading to technological advancements as well as generation of increased revenue to the exchequer,” comments Landers on the important role of gaming industry self-regulation.
“AIGF and its advisory panel of domain experts will be happy to assist in playing a consultative role for the same. We sincerely believe that with the much-needed support of the relevant policymakers across the States and the Center, India can become an online gaming superpower, in the near future.”
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