Nazara expands its operations for Real Money Gaming in Kenya

Nazara Technologies Limited (Nazara) expands its operations in Kenya to tap the real money gaming market, through the incorporation of a subsidiary, NZWorld Kenya Limited (NZWorld). Nazara holds a 70% stake in NZ World. NZ World in partnership with Nazara has secured a betting license from the Betting Control Board of Kenya to operate certain products within the license. NZ World is planning to launch sports betting, sports fantasy, Sports Arcade and Sports Real Money Quiz starting with FIFA in June 2018.
 
According to Manish Agarwal, CEO, Nazara Technologies, “Real Money gaming is popular in African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon in addition to Kenya, primarily on account of a well laid out and clear licensing framework. We are excited to leverage Nazara’s on-ground network built over the last few years so as to exploit the sports betting and the fantasy market in the African countries beginning with FIFA 18.”
 
We believe that with penetration of internet, affordability of smartphones and declining data prices, the gaming industry is picking up pace across emerging markets. Given Nazara’s presence in these markets, we believe that Nazara is well poised to offer the right product mix from amongst its stable investee companies and developer partners. 
 
The product proposed to be launched in Kenya is a real-time social predication sports game where players can bet real-time among their friends, which was developed by one of Nazara’s investee companies, Mastermind Sports (Mastermind). “Worldwide, real-money sports gaming is becoming mainstream. We're excited to create a differentiated product experience by leveraging fan insights & our technology expertise. We believe that Africa, starting with Kenya, presents a growth opportunity for us with their appetite for live sports gaming”.  says Pratik Shah, Founder & CEO, Mastermind Sports.
 
Nazara also invested in HalaPlay, a Daily Fantasy Sports platform in the second half of 2017.  “We believe Fantasy Sports is the best way to engage sports fans all across the globe. Positive feedback and growth in user base in India on our product in last 1 year, gives us the confidence to take our product global. Kenya, being a soccer crazy nation, we believe that there could not be a better time than FIFA World Cup to start our operations, with support of Nazara and their network”, says Swapnil CEO & Co Founder, HalaPlay

 
Apart from Mastermind Sports and HalaPlay, Nazara has also invested in Moong Labs. Nazara acquired Nextwave Multimedia of World Cricket Championship (WCC) fame and NODWIN Gaming, which are in line with building a network of synergistic companies for operations in India and other emerging markets across Middle East, Africa and South East Asia. 
 
Nazara Technologies Limited has filed DRHP and has received investments from IIFL Asset Management and Rakesh Jhunjhunwala recently. With (ESL’s) investment in Nazara and NODWIN’s securing exclusive rights of using the ESL system and platform for the next 5 years, Nazara is poised to exploit the expected opportunity in the esports business.
 

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