"Asia's Future Gaming Hub to Be Karnataka, According to Priyank Kharge at IGC 2024"
Karnataka, India's IT and startup hub, is making significant strides towards its ambition of becoming the gaming and animation capital of Asia. This ambition is supported by the growing media and entertainment sector, particularly in animation, VFX, and mobile gaming markets.
The Indian Gaming Convention (IGC) 2024, organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), took place on October 14-15, 2024, at the Taj Palace, New Delhi. Shri Priyank Kharge, Minister of Information Technology and Biotechnology of Karnataka, made a special address at the event, expressing his vision for the state's future in the gaming and animation industry.
In 2023, India's gaming market was poised to reach USD 7 billion, reflecting a strong growth trajectory. Meanwhile, the Indian animation and VFX sector was projected to grow from USD 1.3 billion in FY23 to USD 2.2 billion by FY26, increasing its share in the media and entertainment industry from 5% to 6%.
The Karnataka government, under the leadership of Shri Kharge, has been fostering an enabling ecosystem for gaming and animation. This is evident in the new AVGC policy announced by Karnataka, which aims to ensure that more Intellectual Properties (IPs) come out from the state. Karnataka also runs a program called Elevate, offering a grant of 50 lakh rupees to startups in the AVGC sector.
The IGC 2024 was a grand event, with Meta serving as the Title Partner. Among the major partners were Gold Partners - Salesforce and Veve, Silver Partners - Google Cloud & Bureau, Lanyard partner - Moloco, GameTech Enabler - Singhtek, and Knowledge Partner - PWC. The magazine covers news, updates, previews, highlights, features, and more across verticals like poker, rummy, and fantasy sports. It has a history that has spanned over a decade and has tied up with events and tournaments to help push the awareness of skill gaming in the country.
The theme for IGC 2024 was "India-the Next Superpower in Gaming." Shri Kharge commented that the global AVGC market is estimated to be more than $366 billion, with animation and visual effects constituting 46% share and gaming 54% share. The Allahabad High Court has ruled that poker and rummy are games of skill, further boosting the confidence in India's growing gaming industry.
As of August 2025, 15 Vegas-style casinos are planned in Karnataka, adding another dimension to the state's growing gaming industry. If one is looking for the latest updates across real money gaming, they have arrived at the perfect destination.
With its supportive policies, expanding industry landscape, and growing market trends, Karnataka is progressing steadily towards becoming Asia’s gaming and animation capital.
- The gaming and animation industry in Karnataka, India, is projected to grow significantly, with the gaming market alone expected to reach USD 7 billion in 2023.
- The Indian Gaming Convention (IGC) 2024, organized by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), highlighted the state's ambition to become the gaming and animation capital of Asia.
- Shri Priyank Kharge, Minister of Information Technology and Biotechnology of Karnataka, expressed his vision for the state's future in the gaming and animation industry at the IGC 2024.
- Karnataka's government, under the leadership of Shri Kharge, has introduced an AVGC policy to foster an enabling ecosystem for gaming and animation, and runs a program called Elevate to support startups in the AVGC sector.
- The IGC 2024 was a grand event with various partners, including Meta, Salesforce, Veve, and PWC, and focused on news, updates, previews, and features across the poker, rummy, and fantasy sports industries.
- Shri Kharge commented that the global AVGC market is estimated to be more than $366 billion, and the Allahabad High Court has ruled that poker and rummy are games of skill, further boosting confidence in India's growing gaming industry.
- As of August 2025, 15 Vegas-style casinos are planned in Karnataka, expanding the state's growing gaming industry to include casino gambling.
- With its supportive policies, expanding industry landscape, and growing market trends, Karnataka is progressing steadily towards becoming Asia’s gaming and animation capital.
