To ‘Innovate Karnataka,’ State Gov’t Launches AVGC Centre Of Excellence

The popularity and adoption of online gaming opens doors to many economic opportunities, that is a known fact. It’s also a major prospect that the state of Karnataka wants to capitalize on given the rapidly growing number of local online gamers who are playing for casual online gambling entertainment or to win while playing teen patti real cash games.

Karnataka launches AVGC digital media hub

In January, the state government of Karnataka unveiled the centre of excellence for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comics (AVGC) as part of the state-funded Innovate Karnataka programme. Minister for Electronics, IT/BT C N Ashwath Narayan said the centre will bring “digital excellence to creative industries,” especially with India having the potential to control up to 25 percent of the global AVGC market by 2027.

“Karnataka has been driving the AVGC sector in the country,” Narayan said. “This centre will take us to greater prominence in the sector.”

The centre is described as a high technology digital media hub for the state and also features a finishing school with unique courses on emerging technologies such as virtual reality, digital compression, photogrammetry, gamification of education, and real-time virtual production.

According to E V Ramana Reddy, Assistant Chief Secretary of Department of Electronics, IT/BT, and S&T, the state of Karnataka holds 20 percent share of the Entertainment and AVGC industry in the country. He told the Times of India, “A total of over 300 animation, VFX & gaming studios operate in Karnataka employing over 15,000+ professionals. With the launch of this CoE [centre of excellence], the AVGC ecosystem will be further benefitted.”

Online gaming holds potential to become India’s forte

Karnataka’s move to launch a centre of excellence is the first salvo of India’s government as it shifts its focus towards the digital transformation of the country. In February, just weeks after Karnataka opened the doors of the CoE, the Union Budget 2022-23 announced a plan to set up a task force for the promotion of the AVGC industry, which is now opening new opportunities for nascent industries like online casino.

By shifting its focus towards actively promoting online gaming-related initiatives, instead of banning the industry altogether, the Indian government is already making great strides when it comes to addressing the thriving industry and the opportunities it presents. Gambling, one of the most lucrative verticals of online gaming, can actually become India’s forte with new innovations—if it’s utilized and regulated the right way.

Take Karnataka, for example. Players in the tech-savvy state are found to have a preference for novel versions of roulette and classic desi card games, according to an ENV Media report.

Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already acknowledged the huge international potential that the gaming industry has, saying, “The gaming market is huge internationally and the number of youth connected to this market globally is increasing. That is why in this year’s budget we have focused on Animation Visual Effects Gaming Comic (AVGC).”