Roland Landers — Biography
I work at the intersection of policy, technology, and digital entertainment, with a primary focus on the development of India’s online gaming ecosystem.
Currently, I serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), where I represent and engage with stakeholders across the online gaming industry, including platforms, policymakers, investors, and regulators. My work is centered on understanding how online gaming and betting-related products evolve within India’s unique legal, economic, and cultural framework.
Over the years, I have been closely involved in analyzing market trends in online gaming, fantasy sports, and skill-based platforms, as well as the impact of regulation and taxation on long-term industry growth. A significant part of my role involves interpreting how government policy, court rulings, and state-level regulations affect operators and users across different regions of India.
My perspective is shaped by continuous interaction with industry leaders, legal experts, and international organizations. I regularly contribute insights to public discussions on the future of online gaming in India and am frequently invited to share data-driven views with media outlets, industry forums, and policy consultations.
I believe that sustainable growth in the online gaming and betting market depends on transparency, responsible product design, and clear regulatory frameworks. My work focuses not on promoting individual platforms, but on helping build an ecosystem where innovation, consumer protection, and compliance can coexist.
| Category | Organization / City | Reference Link |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) | https://aigf.in |
| Work Location | New Delhi, India | New Delhi – City Profile |
| Industry Coverage | Reuters – Gaming & Regulation | Reuters (Industry References) |
| Market Analysis | The Economic Times – Online Gaming | Economic Times – Gaming Market |
| Media & Policy | CNBC TV18 India | CNBC TV18 – Policy Discussions |
Personal Perspective & Motivation
My interest in the online gaming sector developed naturally through my broader work in digital policy and platform governance. As India’s technology ecosystem expanded, it became clear that gaming and betting-related products would play an increasingly visible role in digital consumption, investment, and public debate. Rather than approaching the sector from a purely commercial standpoint, I became interested in how these platforms intersect with regulation, consumer trust, and long-term sustainability.
What motivates my work is the challenge of balancing innovation with responsibility. Online gaming evolves faster than most regulatory frameworks, and this creates friction not only for operators, but also for policymakers and users. My role often involves translating industry realities into language that regulators and the public can understand, while also helping companies grasp the broader social expectations placed on them.
Approach to Market Analysis
I do not view the online gaming market through short-term metrics alone. While user growth and revenue figures are important, they rarely tell the full story. My analytical approach focuses on structural factors such as regulatory clarity, taxation models, product design, and the long-term behavior of players across different states and demographics in India.
A large part of my work involves assessing how policy changes — including taxation decisions, court rulings, and state-level bans or restrictions — affect market stability over time. These insights are particularly relevant in a fragmented regulatory environment like India’s, where operators must navigate varying legal interpretations across regions.
Engagement with Policymakers and Industry
Engaging with policymakers is a core component of my professional life. Much of this work happens outside public view, through consultations, roundtables, and working groups focused on digital policy and online gaming. The objective is not advocacy in the narrow sense, but dialogue — ensuring that regulation is informed by data, international precedent, and realistic assessments of user behavior.
At the same time, I maintain close contact with platform operators, startups, and investors. This allows me to understand how regulatory signals translate into real business decisions, from product launches to market exits. Bridging this gap between policy intent and market reality is one of the most challenging — and important — aspects of my work.
View on the Future of Online Gaming in India
I believe the future of online gaming in India will be defined less by individual platforms and more by institutional trust. Clear rules, transparent compliance standards, and responsible product design will determine which companies are able to operate sustainably in the long term.
As the market matures, the distinction between skill-based gaming, betting, and other forms of digital entertainment will continue to be debated. My focus remains on ensuring that these debates are grounded in evidence, legal clarity, and an honest assessment of consumer impact rather than rhetoric or short-term political pressure.
Beyond Professional Life
Outside of policy and market analysis, I value time spent understanding how global gaming markets evolve. Studying regulatory models in Europe, the UK, and parts of Asia provides important comparative insights that are often missing in domestic discussions. These perspectives help inform a more balanced and globally aware approach to India’s online gaming landscape.
I see my work not as a final authority, but as part of an ongoing conversation. The online gaming and betting ecosystem in India is still evolving, and meaningful progress will require cooperation between industry, regulators, media, and users alike.
