Online Gambling in India is Flourishing

Gambling has always been a big part of Indian Culture, and the online gambling market in India has recently experienced tremendous growth. Despite land-based gambling being illegal in India, bar a few states, the government does permit online gaming if it is operated by offshore Companies. 

Over the last few years, the number of users playing online casinos have increased dramatically and is expected to see an astounding 20% growth by the end of this year. The increase in usership can be credited to the sheer number of online casino brands now available to players from India together with the availability of mobile devices and better internet connectivity. Let's look at some of the driving factors behind this growth in more detail.

Online Gambling in India: Facts and Figures

In 2021, the Indian gaming market was worth about two billion dollars and is expected to reach seven billion dollars by 2026. It is also predicted that over 40,000 personnel will be working in the gaming sector by the end of 2022 -  a clear indication of the online casino industry's continued expansion. 

Legal Factors

Land-based Casinos are illegal in most states of India and are subject to a very complex legal framework under the Public Gambling Act of 1867. Land-based casinos may encounter difficulties if they do not abide by the laws enforced by the gambling authority, the body responsible for the management of all gambling establishments in India. To make things even more complicated, each state has its own gambling regulations. The only states that actually permit land-based gambling on a small scale and at regulated venues are Daman, Sikkim, and Goa. These regulations mean that in order to enjoy a wager or two, more and more Indian nationals are turning to online gambling for their entertainment. 

Better Connectivity

With over 900 million users, India is the country with the second-highest number of internet users in the world, after China. Over the next five years, it is predicted that there will be an additional 45% growth in the number of internet users and this will ultimately lead to even more online casino users. 

Availability of Mobile Devices

Most online casinos are available to play across on both desktop computers and mobile devices meaning that casino games can be played at any time and in any place making it easy to gamble even if the player is not at home.

Payment Options 

Making a deposit and withdrawing money has been made substantially simpler for gamers located in India over the past several years. Users can now complete transactions without difficulty using a variety of payment methods. You can pay on the websites using e-wallets, prepaid cards, UPI, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, a lot of websites let users deposit money with the India Rupee.

Wide Variety of Games

More and more online casino brands are emerging, providing consumers with an increasing number of alternatives. As a result, game developers are producing more games and even developing them specifically at each market, Indian gamblers are now finding more games are available that are focused with them in mind. 

Other Popular Games and Genres

Aside from Casino games,  role-playing, shooting, and fantasy sports are the three most popular game genres in India. Mobile Premier League, Garena Free Fire, and Dream are the top three games in terms of active members. eSports is also very popular in India. Wagers are regularly made on virtual sports that are based on real competitions and have extremely realistic animations and images. Virtual football is the most popular game. There are hundreds of virtual football matches that are played in a single day, all of which are available at any time and are much shorter than real ones.

Conclusion

All the reasons mentioned indicate that India's iGaming market is growing rapidly. At the moment Online casinos typically attract the most users from bigger cities such as Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, and Bangalore. These statistics are likely to change in the near future, as more and more people in rural areas become connected to the internet. The Online Gambling Industry is now putting a big focus on the Indian market and the casinos are competing with one another to give them the greatest experience possible.