New Delhi: Zapak Digital Entertainment Ltd, has invited franchisees applications as the Reliance ADAG-owned gaming unit plans to reach out to more than 100 cities in the coming months.

Currently the company operates 51 Zapak Gameplex cafes in 31 cities. It plans to take the number to 500 by the end of the year.

ADAG is running advertisements in leading mainstream newspapers inviting potential franchisee who have 300-600 sq ft premises and can invest anywhere between Rs13 and 20 lakh in the venture.

The company says more than 20,000 people visit Zapak Gameplex cafes every week and the company claims to have 75% market-share of the gaming industry.

The Indian gaming industry is expected to grow by almost 40% annually in the next five years to Rs14 billion from Rs2.7 billion at the end of 2007, according to a report by industry lobby the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and audit consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Online gaming will outpace the industry by growing 45% annually by 2012 to Rs1.6 billion from Rs25 million in 2007, the report said. By Staff Writer.