Experts though say that the concept could be a success only in niche segments
What is common between former Australian cricketer Shane Warne and entrepreneur Raj Kundra?
If we leave out their links with the IPL-winning team Rajasthan Royals, then it's their love for the game of poker.
But there is a slight difference.
While the former leg spinner’s resume includes a player profile in the World Series of Poker, Raj Kundra is planning to put India on the global map through poker.
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Kundra’s Viaan Industries, which launched the ‘Match Indian Poker League’ in collaboration with the International Federation of Match Poker (IFMP) last year, is taking the game online this season.
The app for the league christened as Online Team Poker League (OTPL) would be designed in a way that it could be promoted worldwide. Kundra has established partnerships in the US, UK and Israel and is also in the process of getting more countries on board.
“We are looking at the league taking off in July both in India and internationally,” he said.
The league
There would be 30 participating teams and the league would have an annual prize pool of Rs 5 crore. Each of these 30 participating teams will have 6 players who will be seated on separate online tables with fifty thousand virtual chips.
These players will play online twice a month to top the leaderboard. After six hours of play, the chips are counted for the collective team player scores. The collective chip count of all team players will be added up and monthly rankings and prizes of the teams would be given.
The tournament would take place once a month between January and November. The team that tops the leaderboard would also get a chance to represents team India in the World OTPL.
Niche segment
But is India ready for such leagues? Will there be takers for OTPL?
“The concept can be a success in a very niche circuit only. There are several poker groups in the country but most of them are closed user group. However, the league can be fun to participate in but not entertaining enough for viewership,” said Tuhin Mishra, managing director at Sports marketing firm Baseline Ventures.
Kundra, however, is confident about his model. “OTPL is a scaleable concept and will work worldwide. I am starting with India as we already have 15 teams committed out of 30 available,” he said.
Poker is not the end of story. Talking of the days ahead Kundra says,"Viaan Industries is heavily banking on the real money gaming sector. We have rummy, in-line quiz games and many more interesting real money game of skill products coming out this year.”