How India’s online gaming industry fuelled growth during Covid-19

According to the ‘State of Online Gaming 2021,' a research commissioned by Limelight Networks Inc, global gamers spend an average of eight hours and 27 minutes each week playing video games, with Indian players spending more than eight hours and minutes.

Real money online gaming was at an all-time high during the pandemic, when most sectors were experiencing huge losses. According to KPMG 2020's A Year Off Script study, the entire user base for online gaming in India has risen from 269 million in FY18 to 365 million in FY20.

Real Money Gaming

Real Money Games is one market that has seen an extraordinary increase in both investors and participants. According to data gathered by gaming groups, the number of real money games has grown significantly. Around 150 million games were downloaded in the month of May 2020.

Giving an estimate of how much the gaming sector is worth today, Roland Landers, CEO of the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), states that suffice it to say that in their estimation, the entire online gaming industry or skill gaming industry would be worth around 9000 crores or so with subscription-led or transactional-led online skill gaming (loosely translated ).

During the initial countrywide shutdown, time spent on gaming applications increased by 21%, with a total customer base of 300 million individuals, and the number of real money game (RMG) players aged 35 and up increased significantly. During the first several weeks of the lockdown, the most popular apps were Ludo King, Rummy 13 Cards, and Bubble Shooter.

According to a Deloitte India research, the real money online gaming market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 40% to $2.8 billion by 2022, up from $1.1 billion in 2019.

During the initial countrywide shutdown, time spent on gaming applications increased by 21%, with a total customer base of 300 million individuals, and the number of real money game (RMG) players aged 35 and up increased significantly. During the first several weeks of the lockdown, the most popular apps were Ludo King, Rummy 13 Cards, and Bubble Shooter.

According to a Deloitte India research, the online gaming market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 40% to $2.8 billion by 2022, up from $1.1 billion in 2019.

The Covid Impact

The emergence of Covid-19 caused the whole globe to remain inside for an extended period of time. Because there were no other options for amusement during the shutdown, people flooded online gaming sites. During the lockout, India's gaming industry expanded at a CAGR of 21%.

Online games have over 300 million players in India and are constantly growing. According to industry executives, skill games, in particular, have provided the competitiveness and pleasure that real-life athletic activities provide. Cultural and social games have been utilized for social interaction and entertainment in India for centuries. Carrom, Snakes and Ladders, Ludo, and even Chess are examples of board games. Modern technology has further enhanced the tradition by digitizing traditional games, making them more appealing and accessible.

In recent years, skill-based games have grown in popularity. Because India is a mobile-first country, mobile devices are mostly utilized to play online skill games, and India accounts for 13% of the global market. Some argue that winning such games necessitates a certain level of talent, comprehension, and mental acuity.

While Covid has increased interest in real money online gaming, certain jurisdictions that consider it to be "gambling" have made choices that have been damaging to the skill gaming industry.

Rummy is a classic card game that has been around for centuries. According to Traffic Analysis data, the second COVID-19 wave and subsequent lockdowns raised search interest in Rummy by 90% between March and May 2021.

The surge in popularity might be ascribed to India's long-standing love for traditional games that have now gained digital wings. Despite certain barriers, Landers predicts that the online gaming business would expand at a 40% annual pace and reach a staggering 11 billion rupees by 2025.

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