Category: How it Works

GST Council clears the way for taxing offshore gaming companies; experts divided on its impact

For quite some time now, companies like 1XBet, DafaBet, Fairplay, Parimatch, and Betway have been ramping up their advertising efforts in India, coinciding with the action-packed events like Indian Premier League cricket season, World Cup and others. In fact, they have been using the GST chaos for moment marketing purposes as well. Platforms like Fairplay have been using influencers to promote features such as '24X7 winning withdrawal, no GST, and referral code bonuses’.

The council recommended inserting a specific provision in the IGST Act, 2017, to provide for liability to pay GST on the supply of online money gaming by a supplier located outside India.

GST Council decision on online gaming: Industry voices concerns and hopes for future review

The Supreme Court recently stayed the Karnataka High Court's judgment that had quashed the GST department's show-cause notice to Gameskraft in May 2023. (Representative image by Michał Parzuchowski via Unsplash)

While re-strategising business models might be an option for the larger players, for the smaller online gaming enterprises, the weight of taxation could prove to be insurmountable as per stakeholders.

Just because something is legal, does not mean it is ethical: Revant Himatsingka aka the FoodPharmer

The interview also addressed the topic of the onslaught of legal notices that Himatsingka received. He reveals that he tries to be strategic with his timings when he is posting a controversial video in the hopes that lawyers aren’t working. (Image sourced from @TheWholeTruthFoodsYT)

Revant Himatsingka addresses getting legal notices, advocates for local food and questions the legitimacy of Bollywood celebrities who act as health influencers.

GST Council’s meeting today: What’s at stake for online gaming industry

Structural shifts toward a higher propensity to pay for in-game features and the burgeoning popularity of casual and midcore games are poised to play pivotal roles in shaping the landscape by FY28. (Representative Image via Unsplash)

The gaming industry is hopeful that the government will consider their concerns and arrive at a fair and sustainable decision for the valuation of GST on online gaming platforms.

ASCI and Khaitan & Co release whitepaper on generative AI

According to ‘Win with Conversations’, a report Meta launched with Bain & Company, 70 percent of surveyed large enterprises are already engaging with half of their customer base using conversational platforms. (Representative image by Andrea De Santis via Unsplash)

The paper highlights regulatory ambiguity and challenges surrounding use of AI in advertising.

MIB issues notice to unauthorised rating agency Chrome for violating guidelines

The recent decision was taken under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 in consultation with other Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, and domain experts specializing in media and entertainment, women's rights, and child rights. (Representative Image: Glenn Carstens-Peters via Unsplash)

Chrome Data Analytics and Media is reportedly operating as a rating agency without proper registration.

Creating happy tension: The power of CFO-CMO partnerships

Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing & communications officer and president - healthcare business, Mastercard and Sachin Mehra, chief financial officer, Mastercard. (Image sourced from Forbes and LinkedIn)

The disconnect between CFOs and CMOs is partially a result of how we communicate, but also what we communicate. For too long, marketers and finance people have talked past each other, each communicating what they want without truly listening.

Insider Banter: Partnerships are the key to building successful businesses

Established in 2019 by IITians Anurag Kedia and Gagandeep Makker, Pilgrim is one of the fastest-growing Beauty and Personal Care brands that offers 100+ SKUs across facecare, haircare & skincare products, makeup, and fragrances. The brand’s diverse selection of beauty products is made with ingredients sourced from various parts of the world, all of which are approved by PETA and the FDA, highlighted the company. (Image source: Claudio Schwarz via Unsplash)

D2C companies especially should look at symbiotic partnerships as a powerful way of growing their business.