PSL Season 7 Gets a Major Boost: PokerBaazi Steps in as Title Sponsor

Indian poker’s ascent toward mainstream acceptance just got a major boost. PokerBaazi, a powerhouse in the Indian poker scene, has stepped up as the title sponsor for Poker Sports League (PSL) Season 7. PSL, already one of the most-watched poker events in the country, is where poker prowess meets ambition, drawing players from all over the country. This partnership is a landmark event, arriving hot on the heels of poker’s official recognition as a mind sport by the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) in 2024, putting it in the same league as chess and eSports.

This isn’t just about a name on a banner; it’s about a company that’s been relentlessly pushing the boundaries of poker in India. From backing Season 2 of the hit show Shark Tank India to joining forces with JioCinema during the Tata IPL 2024 and creating original content IPs like “The Circuit,” PokerBaazi has consistently championed poker as a game of skill and strategy and left no stone unturned to bring it to a broad audience. This PSL partnership is the latest power move in their mission to redefine poker in India.

🎉 Big news! @PokerBaazi steps up as the title sponsor for @PSLofficial_X Season 7! After a stellar year of partnerships with @sharkTankindia, @JioCinema & more, Season 7 promises bigger prize pools, 8 action-packed teams, and a poker bonanza like never before! Read here 👇🏻

— PokerGuru (@PkrGuru) February 21, 2025

PSL Season 7: Bigger, Bolder, and More Engaging

PSL Season 6 was a knockout, racking up a staggering 22.6 Million views on JioCinema. And Season 7 is set to blow those numbers away. With an expanded roster of eight teams (from the previous seven), each featuring at least one influencer and a lineup of top-tier pros, the league is amping up the excitement. Season 6 boasted a ₹2 Crore prize pool, and with PokerBaazi in the driver’s seat, Season 7 is aiming even higher.

“The partnership between PokerBaazi and PSL is a watershed moment for poker in India,” says Pranav Bagai, CEO & Co-founder of Poker Sports League.

PSL’s unique team-based format adds a fresh twist, showcasing poker as a competitive mind sport where players from all backgrounds can compete for serious cash—without any entry fee. PSL has been instrumental in legitimizing poker, demonstrating that it’s more about mental agility and strategic thinking than just luck. While details on the NPS qualifiers are yet to be announced, it is safe to assume these will start sometime after NPS India 2025.

PokerBaazi: The Undisputed Leader of Indian Poker

PokerBaazi, part of Baazi Games, headed by Founder & CEO Navkiran Singh, has built a thriving community of over 45 Lakh registered users. For over a decade, they’ve been committed to providing a safe and exciting environment for players of all levels.

Beyond a user-friendly platform (built in-house) and round-the-clock support, PokerBaazi invests heavily in nurturing India’s poker talent. They offer everything from major tournaments to daily games and produce high-quality content like “The Circuit,” a poker series that pits India’s best pros against each other in intense, strategic battles. Season 2 of “The Circuit,” filmed in Hanoi, Vietnam, launched in January 2024, setting a new standard for poker content in India.

“PSL’s unique and engaging format has created love for the league in the Indian poker community. The league is an interesting dimension and will create more awareness about this sport in our country. We are excited to come onboard and together make it bigger,” says Navkiran Singh.

Nazara Technologies’ Investment: Fueling PokerBaazi’s Growth

A key factor in PokerBaazi’s success story is the strategic investment from Nazara Technologies, which acquired a 47.70% stake in PokerBaazi’s parent company, Moonshine Technology, for a massive ₹982 Crores (including ₹150 Crores in primary capital) last year.

This substantial investment has allowed PokerBaazi to:

• More effectively absorb the 28% GST on deposits introduced in October 2023 without passing the cost on to players.
• Fund massive guaranteed prize pools—like the ₹25 Crore GTD G.O.A.T. 2024—despite the tax changes, keeping the stakes high.
• Expand its brand presence through sponsorships and high-profile marketing campaigns, bringing poker to a wider audience.
• Enhance the user experience and launch innovative content like The Circuit and Poker Masterclass, enriching the entire Indian poker ecosystem.

Even with regulatory hurdles, Moonshine Technology delivered stellar FY24 results, with operating revenue soaring by 55% (from ₹268 Crores in FY23 to ₹415 Crores in FY24) and profits climbing by 26.30%—clear evidence that India’s leading online poker platform is thriving.

Strategic Partnerships: Expanding Poker’s Reach

PokerBaazi’s commitment to taking poker mainstream is evident in its strategic partnerships:

• Shark Tank India, Season 2: By aligning with one of India’s most popular business reality shows, PokerBaazi highlighted the parallels between poker skills—calculated risk-taking, strategic thinking, and mental focus—and the skills needed to succeed in business.
• JioCinema Partnership For Tata IPL 2024: Teaming up with India’s biggest cricket event was a brilliant move, introducing poker to a vast new audience. Ads featuring Bollywood star and PokerBaazi brand ambassador Shahid Kapoor brought the “Tu Poker Khelta Hai Kya?“ campaign into millions of homes, dispelling myths and celebrating poker as a game of skill.
• PokerGO Alliance: This partnership brought premium poker streaming content, complete with Hindi commentary, to Indian viewers. For the first time, Indian players could watch the world’s best pros in action, learn advanced strategies, and immerse themselves in global poker culture.
• World Poker Tour (WPT) Exclusive Tie-Up: PokerBaazi secured the rights to host official WPT tournaments and satellites in India. In December, it hosted the WPT India Online Series, and local players can look forward to chances to qualify for WPT events in Las Vegas, Europe, and Asia.

The Circuit and the National Poker Series India 2025: The Excitement Builds

“The Circuit,” PokerBaazi’s premium poker show, enjoyed a hugely successful first season. Season 2, which premiered in January 2024, raised the bar even higher with top-notch production values and the same international backdrop. Featuring top Indian poker pros in dramatic, high-stakes matchups, “The Circuit” underlines the brand’s dedication to delivering high-quality poker entertainment.

And the best is yet to come. The National Poker Series (NPS) India 2025, running from February 23 to March 24 on PokerBaazi, will offer a colossal ₹100 Crores in guaranteed prize money across 191 tournaments. Billed as the “Olympics of Indian Poker,” the NPS 2025 is open to everyone, from aspiring amateurs to seasoned pros, with 573 medals up for grabs and race to become the State Champion. For the first time, the NPS will crown a National Poker Champion, who will take home a life-changing ₹1 Crore prize and the ultimate bragging rights.

To make the NPS even more accessible, PokerBaazi has brought back the “Road to NPS” satellite series, guaranteeing over ₹2 Crores in tickets to major NPS events, including the ₹10 Crore GTD NPS Main Event and the ₹2 Crore GTD HighRoller. These satellites offer aspiring players a golden opportunity to reach the national stage.

A Sport on the Rise

With IMSA recognizing poker as a mind sport and companies like PokerBaazi leading the charge in India, the future of Indian poker looks incredibly bright. The growing popularity of PSL, combined with PokerBaazi’s strong community engagement and strategic investments, suggests that poker is about to become a household name.

In an era where skill-based gaming is finally getting the recognition it deserves, the partnership between PokerBaazi and PSL is a major turning point. With Nazara Technologies’ backing, industry-shaping moves like absorbing the 28% GST, high-profile partnerships with Shark Tank and the IPL, and the highly anticipated National Poker Series India 2025, PokerBaazi is poised to redefine not just poker but the entire skill-based gaming ecosystem in India.

If Season 7 of the Poker Sports League is any indication, we’re entering a new era—one in which poker, fueled by robust community support and strategic innovation, can firmly establish itself as India’s next major mind sport.