For the modern Indian society, online games have become a natural and convenient form of a pastime. From casual to real-money games, desi users show a growing bond with mobile gaming, and the trend is visible across the Union.
There are, nonetheless, some urban areas and states which – because of disposable income or their gaming culture – present a higher propensity for real-money games, industry research shows.
Tier-1 Cities Drive up Mobile Traffic to Gambling Sites
Overall development levels transpire as a major factor in online gambling traffic, a recent SevenJackpots study reveals. The six States that correspond to the six largest urban agglomerations are home to nearly two thirds of all online casino players in India. Industry experts point to social and economic factors such as disposable income and a mobile-first lifestyle which shape market demand.
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bangalore are ahead of the curve. Higher levels of economic and technological development, better business climate and intense media exposure have evident impacts on people’s online gaming habits. Pune, Ahmedabad and Surat are also well-placed among communities playing casino, poker and blackjack.
Organic traffic data over six months shows that most players at https://casinodays2.com/in and the like online gambling sites come from Maharashtra (17.4%) with Telangana somewhat further behind (9.9%).
The entire Union market, however, has grown consistently to over 420 million players, with 150 million real-money ones on record. Most of those follow global trends more closely than ever before, taking Indian gaming behavior closer to that of mature foreign markets.
Rural Gamers Catching up with Urban Ones in Total Numbers
Such market trends are confirmed by nationwide statistics, with internet coverage available to 820 million users and smartphones more affordable than ever before. The tech-savvy desi youth is at ease with mobile technology and e-payments, driving up market growth post-Covid. And online entertainment goes well beyond mobile games, having become a reliable mainstream choice.
Urban and rural players are currently cited as roughly equal in total numbers. Big metropolitan centers continue to define media and entertainment trends but non-urban users post the highest rates of growth year-on-year – an average of 18% increase in paid online gaming. The digital divide is less noticeable today, even when some regions still rely on 3G speeds for their daily online tasks.
The healthy growth of the online gaming market creates opportunities for desi tech startups but also raises expectations and player demands. Big city consumers support the convergence with global gaming tastes but India is inevitably too strong culturally and the creation of local content becomes key for a stable market presence.
Offshore companies face a reality where they need domestic support from vendors, content creators and gaming studios to respond adequately to market demand. The multitude of languages, cultural traits and regional specifics makes the in-depth understanding of Indian players a cornerstone strategy for a growing number of operators.
Looking beyond desi staples like teen patti and andar bahar, the study provides some insights of what games are popular across states. Metropolitan areas such as Delhi and Mumbai show a liking for slots, Hyderabad pushes up Telangana in online roulette traffic while Bengaluru stands out in desi table games.
In the end, all gaming communities seem increasingly fond of Western-style casino games. Traditional Indian games like rummy, three-card poker, jhandi munda and even ludo are still high up on everyone’s lists but they act as “gateway products” to online roulette, slots and a number of live dealer games, the experts conclude.
Content Produced by Indian Clicks, LLC
