Monday, February 2, 2026
Home Blog Page 11

India Bans 242 Illegal Betting and Gambling Websites – Reports

Aditya Parsutkar
-
0
India Bans 242 Illegal Betting and Gambling Websites – Reports

The Indian government has taken strong action against illegal online betting and gambling by blocking hundreds of websites. This move is part of a wider effort to protect users, especially young people, from financial harm and online fraud. So far, nearly 8,000 unregulated betting and gambling platforms have been shut down after new gaming laws came into effect.

India Bans 242 Illegal Betting and Gambling Websites

On January 16, 2026, the Union government ordered the blocking of 242 illegal betting and gambling websites. These links were taken offline under strict rules of the newly enforced Online Gaming Act. This law aims to curb websites that offer real-money gaming and betting opportunities without proper approval.

Total Blocked Platforms Since Last Year

Government agencies say that the recent action is part of a larger campaign against illegal betting platforms. After the Online Gaming Act was passed, authorities stepped up enforcement. So far, over 7,800 illegal betting and gambling sites have been banned in India.

Why Is the Government Taking Action?

Officials say the crackdown has two main goals:

Protect players from addiction and fraud: Illegal betting sites can cause big financial losses and encourage addictive behavior among users.

Stop social harm and financial risk: These sites often operate without regulation, exposing people, especially youth to money loss and scams.

The Online Gaming Act not only bans unauthorized betting, it also regulates online gaming activities and restricts advertisements related to real-money games.

Read More: Krafton India Partners with Royal Enfield: Bullet 350 and Continental GT 650 Arrive in BGMI

With this law now in force, the government plans to tighten monitoring of online gaming platforms. Sites that break the rules could face fines or legal penalties. Players are not usually punished, but site operators and promoters can face action if they ignore the ban.

The aim is to build a safer online gaming environment in India, while encouraging legitimate games like e-sports and social gaming that don’t involve real money.

Donk Shines as Spirit Wins Against SINNERS in BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1

Sarjyo Mukherjee
-
0
Donk Shines as Spirit Wins Against SINNERS in BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1

Team Spirit and Donk have picked up right where they left off last season with a comfortable 2-0 win over SINNERS at the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1. A close first map followed by an easy second secures the first win of the new CS2 season for the CIS side.

VETO

  • Spirit removed Inferno
  • SINNERS removed Anubis
  • Spirit picked Mirage
  • SINNERS picked Nuke
  • Spirit removed Ancient
  • SINNERS removed Overpass
  • Dust2 was left over

Map 1: Mirage; Pick: Spirit; Winner: Spirit

A surprisingly good start for SINNERS saw them get off to a 6-1 start before Spirit managed to get a hold of the game. Individuals struggling early on in the map gave SINNERS the room that they needed to pick up a few rounds before Spirit came back with a few rounds to post a levelled scoreline by the end of the first half. Spirit continued the momentum into the second half and in the process managed to reach a scoreline of 10-6 before SINNERS started mounting a comeback, closing in on the lead. Two consecutive rounds from Spirit put them on map point before Spirit managed to convert the final round of regulation to close out the first map with a tight scoreline of 13-11. An inhuman 1.88 IR with 28 kills saw Donk put up his usual numbers to give his side an early lead in the series.

Map 2: Nuke; Pick: SINNERS; Winner: Spirit

Despite being a freshly introduced map in their pool, Spirit started confidently on Nuke, but SINNERS managed to challenge them well, consequently posting a fairly well-contested first half similar to Mirage. Swapping sides with a 5-7 scoreline, SINNERS dropped the ball, leading to Spirit posting a perfect offence and closing the door for a third map. A flawless 6-0 offence from Spirit closed the map with a 13-5 scoreline, and while Donk posted good numbers, it was tN1R who stood out as the best performer.

Spirit’s loss at the Major last year was a massive setback for the team, leading to Spirit undergoing a massive roster shuffle, and now the roster unites under a new leader. Only time will tell if the new line-up gets the results that it is built for, but until then, the results are looking good for the organization.

9z Signs “dgt” to its CS2 Roster

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
9z Signs “dgt” to its CS2 Roster

Uruguayan Counter-Strike 2 pro Franco “dgt” Garcia is returning to the team 9z roster!

The Argentine esports organization officially confirmed the addition of the 24-year-old to its CS2 roster via an X post on January 15.

“Let’s write the story together, again,” a rough translation of the post reads. “Welcome home, dgt.”

For the unaware, dgt has spent a significant portion of his career playing for the 9z CS2 roster, representing the org from May 2019 to February 2025. He later joined paiN Gaming, where he competed under the Brazilian banner from April to December 2025 and even managed to secure a semi-final slot in the BLAST Austin Major.

Dgt will fill the void left by the departure of Luca “Luken” Nadotti from the 9z roster. Nadotti didn’t renew his contract with 9z and left to join Gaimin Gladiators earlier this month.

With the acquisition of dgt, the current 9z CS2 roster includes the following players:

  • Maximiliano “max” Gonzalez
  • Franco “dgt” Garcia
  • Ignacio “meyern” Meyer
  • Luciano “luchov” Herrera
  • Matías “HUASOPEEK” Ibañez
  • Bruno “BIT” Fukuda (coach)

Before this, 9z had already made two changes to its CS2 roster in December 2025. With this third change, the team may find itself having a tough time securing direct invites to major events in the upcoming season, as its Valve Regional Standings (VRS) will be heavily impacted.

Valorant Coaches Can Participate in 1v1 Duels in VCT 2026, Riot Confirms

Sonu Banerjee
-
0
Valorant Coaches Can Participate in 1v1 Duels in VCT 2026, Riot Confirms

Riot Games has confirmed that coaches will be able to participate in the 1v1 matches during Valorant’s upcoming Skirmish Side Selection mechanism, which is set to debut with VCT Kickoff 2026.

For the uninitiated, Valorant is experimenting with a new formula for determining sides and map picks during tournament games. Previously, the starting sides for the teams were determined by a simple coin toss, but that will no longer be the case moving forward.

Starting VCT Kickoff 2026, players from each team will have to participate in a 1v1 match, with the winner securing priority in side selection, as well as during the map ban and pick phase.

Soon after the new format was revealed, the Valorant community urged Riot Games to allow coaches to take part in these duels as well, a request that Riot ultimately approved.

On January 16, Riot confirmed that they’ll allow coaches to participate in the 1v1 duels for the Skirmish Side Selection in VCT 2026.

“Ok we’re making this happen and adding coaches to the skirmish pool,” Valorant Esports Lead Leo Faria said in an X post. It’ll [be] optional and up to teams to have them play or not. Also confirming it’ll be on broadcast, albeit pre-taped.”

Some fans went a step further, asking Faria to restrict the Skirmishes exclusively to coaches. While he did push back on the idea, calling it a step too far, he clarified that teams are still free to coordinate and field coaches on both sides if they choose to do so.

“Making it mandatory felt like a step too far given the wide skill gap; some coaches are former pros, some aren’t,” his statement reads. “But teams are free to coordinate and elect coaches on both sides for content/funsies.”

The Skirmish format will see the players battling in a 1v1 match, with the first team to score five rounds being declared the victor. No Agent abilities are permitted during this game. The winner of the Skirmish game will get priority on map and side picks.

How to Fix Fortnite Error Code 91

Aritra Patra
-
0
How to Fix Fortnite Error Code 91

Several Fortnite players are reporting that they are getting the error code 91, which is restricting them from joining parties. The common symptom of Fortnite error code 91 is when it displays “Unable to join party” messages. The following are effective ways for you to take action and resume playing squad games.

It is imperative to check the status of the Epic Games servers using status.epicgames.com, due to downtime that results in Error 91. If every server is online and working fine, follow the steps mentioned below to fix the error.

How to Fix Fortnite Error 91

Just follow the steps one by one to fix it easily:

  • Restart Fortnite, the device, and the router to flush out temporary bugs. Fortnite needs to be updated through the Epic Games Launcher on devices, with crossplay enabled on console configurations.
  • Test wired internet connectivity. Conduct Wi-Fi connectivity tests for reliability. Change NAT type settings via network discovery or port forwarding on the Wi-Fi router (using Fortnite ports). Alter the DNS settings to Google DNS 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4.
  • After that, you need to verify game files. On PC – In Epic Launcher, Fortnite > three dots > Verify to fix any corrupted files. On Console – Power cycle or settings menu to delete cache.
  • The next advanced step is to whitelist Fortnite in your firewall and antivirus software. Change your matchmaking region from Auto. If needed, you can reinstall Fortnite.

The above steps should fix issue 91 for you. If you are still facing the error, click here to contact Epic Support.

Popular Streamer Izak’s Steam Account Hacked

Aritra Patra
-
0
Popular Streamer Izak’s Steam Account Hacked

Popular Polish Counter-Strike streamer Piotr “izak” Skowyrski suffered a very public Steam account hack today. The hacker turned off Steam Guard 2FA, changed the connected email & phone number, and even updated the name with a smug message: “Hello, Valve 🙂 IZAK, stay calm, nothing will happen to the account.”

The hacker teased others by releasing images of a conversation with the Steam support team, claiming that a single message was all it took to unhook all the security and log off all active sessions. Izak immediately alerted his followers on social media, even mentioning the Counter-Strike page, so that he might get some urgent recovery help. There do not seem to be any stolen items in his inventory, though.

Izak publicly criticized the level of protection offered by Steam as “very vulnerable,” urging Valve to improve support scam defenses in view of phishing attacks. Online debates began to break out on social media sites such as Reddit and X regarding poor support scam defenses. This also happened previously to several pro players. Apart from that, numerous players have reported such incidents in different forums.

CS2 players are also at risk of several threatening factors, including the presence of fake Steam login pages designed to look like skin giveaways, which are commonly found on pro team websites. As of now, the status of Izak’s recovery remains unclear, further adding to the demand for Valve to revive the verification process.

BGMI Redeem Codes Today (16 January 2026): KKRAFTON India Introduces the Desert Prince Outfit in BGMI’s Latest Redeem Code Drop

Aditya Parsutkar
-
0
BGMI Redeem Codes Today (16 January 2026): KKRAFTON India Introduces the Desert Prince Outfit in BGMI’s Latest Redeem Code Drop

KRAFTON India has released another batch of BGMI redeem codes, enabling players to claim the Desert Prince Outfit. Designed to bring a regal edge to the battlegrounds, this exclusive reward continues BGMI’s streak of daily drops aimed at rewarding consistent player participation. Check out the BGMI redeem codes today.

BGMI Redeem Codes Today (16 January 2026): KRAFTON India Introduces the Desert Prince Outfit in BGMI’s Latest Redeem Code Drop

Redeem codes are valid until 28th February 2026 and can be redeemed only on BGMI’s official website.

Redeem Codes:

  • HRZCZQ79EJS5ADS7
  • HRZDZTN4H5B9MBAJ
  • HRZEZKM7DB3GQUBG
  • HRZFZSSA4T8S959Q
  • HRZGZDH5KACQPQQJ
  • HRZHZ99KE79WR8RW
  • HRZIZ6JRSWB3QKT6
  • HRZJZHJDVUXAVWVB
  • HRZKZNWN67KKPN6D
  • HRZLZBE6B5BGG646
  • HRZMZE9A9VA5RTW6
  • HRZNZJ5UA69T35XP
  • HRZOZBXMRXF7AQ6W
  • HRZPZW8NNEE79D63
  • HRZQZ8XW3PKDCSCU
  • HRZRZAPK76MHFNDV
  • HRZVZ54FEM446GPR
  • HRZTZTVBQ5V8RPUB
  • HRZUZASPMPRP4AX5
  • HRZBAZ5D5H583CSQ
  • HRZBBZHEGQQCFDND
  • HRZBCZCJ697PXM7M
  • HRZBDZPX6XDGNFP7
  • HRZBEZFPGT7TRM5F
  • HRZBFZNV48W5PJWD
  • HRZBGZBPQANJ5C89
  • HRZBHZ3EUAG9XX6J
  • HRZBIZ93UMTGAGVA
  • HRZBJZMFPE4N9P36
  • HRZBKZRW4FQMKXEJ
  • HRZBLZQXVCH8TK6W
  • HRZBMZEAJRVRUN5D
  • HRZBNZHR5DXE3QNA
  • HRZBOZK4D5JWGFQV
  • HRZBPZ5S4W6HT7B4
  • HRZBQZPBTJGRB4X6
  • HRZBRZQD3VSHE4RG
  • HRZBVZ7MSUJPJXNE
  • HRZBTZPTJQUPRB86
  • HRZBUZ5KV8XTBC86
  • HRZCAZBU5CF4J6UJ
  • HRZCBZF537E9K689
  • HRZCCZW45XUVJ9E9
  • HRZCDZKCTPPWHVWN
  • HRZCEZJNKAUSWEX8
  • HRZCFZ5W7M6FP83V
  • HRZCGZKXEGC8CT4K
  • HRZCHZ7DJAPND4RD
  • HRZCIZS68CHQPPE6
  • HRZCJZDVFBA7D577
  • HRZCKZQEVDMXVPAA
  • HRZCLZSJVUDJ79NU
  • HRZCMZH7KJ8A6EJJ
  • HRZCNZFGBJWJT4V5
  • HRZCOZ64D4DSHPVD
  • HRZCPZWC5MF4GCCA
  • HRZCQZCCTMPKH695
  • HRZCRZ9E5KJC5SAS
  • HRZCVZ8XU9UE3ASG

Read More: KRAFTON Strengthens New Game Development Pipeline to Drive Long-Term Growth in Core Gaming

Steps to redeem

Players can follow these simple steps to claim their rewards:

  • Step 1: Go to the Redeem section on BGMI’s official website www.battlegroundsmobileindia.com/redeem
  • Step 2: Enter your Character ID
  • Step 3: Enter the Redemption Code
  • Step 4: Enter the verification/ Captcha code → A message will confirm “Code redeemed successfully”
  • Step 5: The reward will be delivered via in-game mail

Rules to Remember:

  • A maximum of 10 users can redeem each code on a first-come first served basis
  • A user cannot redeem a code twice
  • Users must claim their rewards via in-game mail within 7 days or the mail will expire
  • If a player is among the first 10 users to redeem the code, a message will confirm “Code redeemed successfully”. Otherwise, users will see “Code expired” or a similar message
  • Each user account can redeem only one code per day
  • Redeem codes cannot be used via guest accounts
  • Rewards must be claimed within 30 days from receiving the in-game mail
    For the latest updates, follow BGMI’s official YouTube, Instagram and Facebook pages.

What Are BGMI Redeem Codes?

BGMI redeem codes are special codes that give you free rewards in the game. KRAFTON shares these codes, and you can use them to get free skins, outfits, gun upgrades and other items. You don’t need to spend any money. You just enter the code on the BGMI redeem website, and the reward comes to your in-game mail. It is an easy and free way to get new items in BGMI.

KRAFTON Strengthens New Game Development Pipeline to Drive Long-Term Growth in Core Gaming

Aditya Parsutkar
-
0
KRAFTON Strengthens New Game Development Pipeline to Drive Long-Term Growth in Core Gaming

KRAFTON, Inc. has revealed its 2026 management strategy and mid-to-long-term growth plans during its company-wide town hall meeting, KRAFTON LIVE TALK (KLT), held on January 15. The company reaffirmed its strong focus on gaming as its core business, with a long-term vision to build original Franchise IPs instead of relying on one-off game successes.

KRAFTON is advancing a structured global game development pipeline aimed at identifying, validating, and scaling future Franchise IPs. At the same time, the company continues to strengthen its existing gaming portfolio to ensure sustainable, long-term growth across global markets.

India Plays a Key Role in KRAFTON’s Long-Term Growth Strategy

In India, KRAFTON’s strategy is being executed through KRAFTON India’s active involvement in game publishing, live-operations, developer incubation, and ecosystem building. This approach positions India as a key market for sustained, game-led growth.

KRAFTON India is supporting large-scale live games, publishing India-first titles, and nurturing early-stage studios through the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI). This helps connect local talent with global production standards while focusing on long-term IP creation.

KRAFTON CEO CH Kim shared the company’s strategic direction under the theme ‘Franchise IP & Expanded Value.’ He explained that the company will continue its mid-to-long-term goal of securing a “Big Franchise IP”, built on three major priorities announced in 2025.

These include significantly increasing first-party game production, expanding publishing volume, and optimising resource allocation. The aim is to develop IPs that can scale across genres, platforms, and service formats, offering long-term value over extended product life cycles.

“We will remain focused on KRAFTON’s core gaming business as we begin to move into the execution phase of producing new titles,” said CH Kim. “While expanding our existing IPs as content platforms, we will begin to create Franchise IPs via our new title pipeline and creative leadership.”

Execution Phase Begins with Strong Global Development Framework

Over the past year, KRAFTON has strengthened its creative leadership and upgraded its global development and publishing frameworks. In 2026, the company will move fully into the execution phase, accelerating the development of new titles designed to evolve into long-term franchises.

This execution-focused approach is supported in India through live-operations expertise, India-first publishing efforts, and early-stage studio development under KIGI, ensuring a strong pipeline of future-ready games.

Building a Learn-Fast, Scale-Up Game Development Pipeline

To speed up game creation while reducing risk, KRAFTON introduced a small-team development structure in 2025, led by newly recruited creative talent. This model focuses on early or targeted releases, including Early Access and limited market launches.

These releases allow teams to test gameplay, audience response, and monetisation potential before scaling further investment.

Currently, KRAFTON operates a 26-project development pipeline, with 12 titles planned for release over the next two years. Instead of launching games globally at once, projects begin in select markets with clear core audiences, enabling data-driven decisions on long-term potential.

Several titles released in Early Access last year crossed one million sales and built strong player communities. These games have been identified as strategic IPs for 2026, with plans to expand their product life cycles and grow them into full-fledged franchises.

Read More: Krafton India Partners with Royal Enfield: Bullet 350 and Continental GT 650 Arrive in BGMI

AI and Technology Inovation Focused on Core Gaming

Alongside game development, KRAFTON continues to apply AI technologies to improve gameplay quality and development efficiency. These tools are designed to streamline workflows and allow creative teams to focus more on design, iteration, and polish.

These innovations support KRAFTON’s global game development efforts, including publishing and incubation activities in India.

Looking ahead, KRAFTON plans to explore opportunities aligned with its strengths as a game company, backed by years of technical expertise and R&D in building large-scale interactive gaming experiences.

Falcons Beats ECSTATIC in BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1

Sarjyo Mukherjee
-
0
Falcons Beats ECSTATIC in BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1

The Falcons have outclassed ECSTATIC to kick off their 2026 season with a convincing win at the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1, and while anything less than a trophy is disappointing for them, 2026 starts on a high note for the superteam.

VETO

  • ECSTATIC removed Dust2
  • Falcons removed Overpass
  • ECSTATIC picked Inferno
  • Falcons picked Mirage
  • ECSTATIC removed Ancient
  • Falcons removed Anubis
  • Nuke was left over

Map 1: Inferno; Pick: ECSTATIC; Winner: Falcons

Winning the pistol round, ECSTATIC managed to pick up the first and only round of the half that could have come their way. Starting with the force buy, the Falcons were just too good and well-coordinated for ECSTATIC to manage a single round beyond the pistol that they won. Total shutdown in both bombsites rendered their offense helpless as the Falcons brought their A game. Total domination in the first half ensured the Falcons started their defense with an 11-1 scoreline. ECSTATIC picked up the second pistol but dropped the ball in the following rounds as Falcons picked up the two that they needed. Winning both pistols was the only thing they managed, as the stars of the Falcons did what they do best.

Map 2: Mirage; Pick: Falcons; Winner: Falcons

Following a total demolation, ECSTATIC got off to a strong start on their opponent’s map with a 4-0 scoreline before Falcons could get on the board. While the Falcons did manage to fight back, the first half closed with a levelled scoreline, a stark contrast from the map before. ECSTATIC picked up the pistol to kick off their offense, but Falcons hit back with the first gun round and took the lead before a 1v3 clutch from nut nut put ECSTATIC put them back on the board. With both teams evenly matched, Falcon’s confidence and individuals proved to be the difference maker to close the map with a 13-10 scoreline.

After a 2025 filled with disappointing results and tons of heavy criticism, a convincing start to this game will give them the much-needed confidence that they desperately need for the rest of the season.

Liquid Defeats Ninjas in Pyjamas in BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1

Sarjyo Mukherjee
-
0
Liquid Defeats Ninjas in Pyjamas in BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1

Team Liquid has outlasted a young Ninjas in Pyjamas squad with a 2-1 scoreline to secure BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1. Having secured an early win, Liquid is on the right path after a difficult 2025.

VETO

  • Ninjas in Pyjamas removed Inferno
  • Liquid removed Overpass
  • Ninjas in Pyjamas picked Nuke
  • Liquid picked Mirage
  • Ninjas in Pyjamas removed Dust2
  • Liquid removed Anubis
  • Ancient was left over

Map 1: Nuke; Pick: NiP; Winner: Liquid

A solid 3-0 start off the back of a pistol win put Liquid on winning ways before NiP levelled the scoreline, winning 3 rounds of their own. Liquid changed gears from a levelled scoreline, leading to them picking up 6 in a row to close the first half with a dominant scoreline of 9-3. Starting their defence on a high note, NiP managed to put together 5 in a row and cut down on the lead in the process before Liquid hit the scoreboard once again. The Swedes managed to take the game from a one-sided affair to a close contest up until the very end, where Liquid put together 3 in a row to close out the map with a 13-10 scoreline. 1.46 IR with 19 kills from naf, helped Liquid take an early lead.

Map 2: Mirage; Pick: Liquid; Winner: NiP

Another 3-0 start for Liquid on Mirage set them off to a strong start, but unlike Nuke, NiP managed to hit back with a 5-round streak and therefore took the lead early on. Both teams traded rounds for the better part of the first half before NiP edged out a narrow lead of 2 rounds before swapping sides. Winning the pistol, the Swedes extended their lead to 9-5 before Liquid hit, but the rounds that the North Americans picked up were few and far between, leading to NiP closing out the map effortlessly with a 13-8 scoreline. Cairne, with 21 kills, helped his team level the scoreboard and take us to a 3rd map.

Map 3: Ancient; Pick: Decider; Winner: Liquid

Coming off the back of a tough defeat, Liquid managed to surprise the lot with a 6-0 start to the game before NiP pulled a rabbit out of the hat to level the massive lead before switching sides, having won 6 rounds in a row themselves. The second half showed an even closer affair with both teams being inseparable for the remainder of regulation, as they remained inseparable until Liquid edged out a win in the first overtime to secure their first win of 2026.

An early win in 2026 will prove to be an important confidence booster for the squad, and with EliGE back in their ranks, they are ready to be a threat once again. Only time will tell if this roster will become a threat once again, but until then, they have a hard-fought win to enjoy until the next one.

IEM Rio 2026 Invites Announced by ESL
1...101112...1,968Page 11 of 1,968

EDITOR PICKS

Opinions

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

TalkEsport is world's premier stop for esports scores, news and coverage! In the industry since 2009, TalkEsport has garnered immense authenticity and credibility, making it the top destination for Esports!

Contact us: [email protected]

FOLLOW US

© TalkEsport Media & Broadcasting (P) Ltd. All Rights Reserved 2012-2025.