There’s the growing thrill of chasing the pot while your heart thumps louder with every beat. The surprising turn of events during the game, the suspense of the outcome; will it be the “villain” who comes out on top, or the underdog? Poker and movies go together hand in glove as epitomised by James Bond during Casino Royale.
“Bollywood has already penetrated the daily lives of Indians at a major level. However, poker has barely scratched the surface; though it is certainly being increasingly noticed by the young and old alike. Though older men and women tend to prefer Rummy. Another hot and interesting related skill games space is Fantasy cricket” says Mr. Mandar Vaidya, CEO of Taashpanti.
Mr. Vaidya continues “a nexus between Bollywood and Poker already exists and is growing. We are looking to develop the same connection in the Marathi Film Industry. Which is why we decided to do a soft launch during Chirayu, the Annual New Year Marathi Festival, held in Mumbai Turf Club on 7th April 2019.”
A spot promotion of Rs. 2,000 per player was announced and anyone downloading the app and registering would receive the said bankroll just to get started on the innovative platform. What makes Taashpanti exciting is noticeable immediately upon downloading the software – an auto rotating screen which enables one handed play, something no other poker operator in the country has. So here you can go with the normal landscape mode as well as a portrait mode. Turn your screen, and presto!
Ms. Trish Kunath, spokesperson for Technopolis LLC, the software provider for Taashpanti says, “There is a lot of room for innovation in the industry and our release of the portrait mode is just the beginning. Hold on for a long and thrilling ride” she smiles, adding “And it’s going to be an exciting journey with Taashpanti because we have found a partner who values customer service and engagement as much as we do.”
Multi-table tournaments, private tables, instant cash-outs, a plethora of mouth-watering, challenging promotions for players, VIP Club and bonuses for VIP members, disconnection protection, iTechlabs RNG certification, lightweight and user-friendly user interface, is just the beginning of this love saga. Players can look forward to quick sequels as Taashpanti is not stopping with Poker but will also be launching Rummy and Fantasy Cricket back to back.
Poker, Rummy and Fantasy sports are a rapidly growing source of entertainment for many and even income for some. The market is untapped due to the uncertainty regarding legality as well as cultural bias related issues; however this is rapidly changing with various High Courts of India declaring that Poker is a skill game and is therefore seen as legal with the youth of India looking for additional sources of entertainment to match their budget and appetite.
The poker industry is led by a handful of savvy operators led by Adda52, PokerBaazi and Spartan Poker. Each provide their own slew of benefits; however, there is still much left to be desired when compared to the global industry standards. New entrant 9Stacks is making strong inroads and Pocket52 hopes to achieve similar results. Meanwhile, fantasy cricket is growing like never before and the country has its first unicorn – Dream11, with scores of other sites coming up.
Consolidation in the industry can be expected as many operators will not be able to maintain the product quality and the level of service desired by increasingly aware and quality conscious consumers. What remains to be seen is the next level of innovation in the industry. Last year, for instance, 9Stacks sent scores of winners to Las Vegas. PokerBaazi came up with is Rs. 2 crore Game Changer Tournament. Spartan Poker bought out FTR Poker. The scenario is hotting up, as we go to press, and increasingly corporate-level culture rules the roost.
Ms. Kunath provides insight based on their global gaming clientele, “The skill games industry in the country is still in its nascent stages and we are about to experience a myriad of innovation due to technological advancements, cultural acceptance and growing disposable income of the burgeoning young middle class. Voice operated gaming, virtual reality, in-gaming analytics, live poker training are all exciting areas for the future and the future is coming soon. A decade from now you can expect virtual reality fantasy gaming where you are playing in a match against friends or professionals.”
Celebrity Marathi Actor Sushant Shelar is already vocal about his excitement in Taashpanti’s launch and during launch was seen requesting the Marathi Film Industry and fraternity to patronize Taashpanti.
Mr Vaidya continues “Clearly there is a lifestyle change that is happening and we want to ensure the population of the country has access to the best sources of entertainment possible. It’s not just about larger and bigger prizes although that’s always welcome. It’s about raising the stakes of the game and taking it to the next level sustainably. We can either give you a prize for today, or we can change your life forever.” he says while smiling and simultaneously being a gracious host for his guests at the event sponsored by his movie production company.
Are you ready to experience the future? Visit www.taashpanti.com for a fun experience, and meanwhile stay tuned to see what else Taashpanti has in store for us.