Sportradar, the global sports data and technology company, has established a new office in Mumbai and appointed Prasun Bhadani as the General Manager for India. Bhadani brings extensive experience in sports marketing, having managed high-profile Indian Premier League (IPL) cricketers as the head of sales, marketing, and talent for the Rhiti Group of Companies. He has also worked with brands through RISE Worldwide’s sports marketing services and co-founded Rubicube Gaming, which operates the PokerStreet online poker platform in India.
In his new role at Sportradar, Bhadani will be responsible for supporting the company’s strategy in India, strengthening client relationships, and forging new partnerships across key business verticals. Reporting directly to the company’s Managing Director for APAC, Oscar Brodkin, Bhadani is excited about being at the center of the action in India’s rich sporting culture and passionate sports fan base.
Brodkin emphasized the importance of the Indian market for Sportradar’s overall growth in the Asia Pacific region, and expressed confidence in Bhadani’s experience and abilities to help achieve the company’s business objectives in India while delivering quality service and value to their partners.
Bhadani himself shared his enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to Sportradar’s innovative solutions in the sports industry through technology, and his commitment to driving the company’s success in India.
Sportradar’s Ambitious Plans for India
Sportradar, a global leader in sports data and technology, has expressed its ambitious plans for India’s rapidly growing sports industry. With support from both the government and private sectors, India’s sports landscape has seen exponential growth over the past decade, presenting numerous business opportunities in the region. Sportradar believes that the further application of sports technology and the commercialization of rights for sports leagues will unlock even more potential.
Already working with several prominent Indian football leagues, state cricket associations, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Sportradar is actively involved in safeguarding the integrity of prestigious events such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Women’s Premier League (WPL). With its extensive expertise in sports data and technology, Sportradar aims to continue playing a pivotal role in India’s sports ecosystem, supporting the growth and development of the industry while ensuring the integrity and transparency of sporting competitions.
The Growing Landscape of Sports Betting in India
India’s online betting market is experiencing a staggering growth rate of over 20% per year, fueled by the more than 370 million bettors in the country, as reported in the Waterhouse VC March update. Cricket wagering alone is estimated to be worth a whopping $150 billion in India, with approximately 85% of Indian bettors placing bets on this popular sport.
Currently, only three Indian states, namely Daman, Goa, and Sikkim, have officially legalized wagering. The Information Technology Act (2000) in India does not explicitly prohibit online wagering, and the country’s original wagering legislation, the Public Gaming Act (1867), predates online betting, resulting in a legal grey area regarding the status of betting in India.
Recognizing the potential for generating tax revenue, the Indian government is reportedly considering a new gambling bill to replace the outdated Public Gaming Act, as per Waterhouse VC. In October of the previous year, several iGaming websites, including Fairplay, a Curacao-licensed betting exchange, Parimatch, a Cyprus-headquartered company, and Betway, owned by Super Group, were blocked by Indian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) under orders from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY).
Despite the current legal ambiguity, the online betting market in India continues to thrive, with a significant number of bettors actively participating in sports wagering, especially in cricket, and the potential for further growth with potential changes in the regulatory landscape.
