Online Games Searches Up By 52% in India amid Pandemic: Report

When the COVID-19 epidemic hit the world, consumers reacted by turning to technology as they made significant changes in their daily lives. Consumers in mobile-first India have been abandoning the physical world of commodities in favor of new digital experiences in the comfort and safety of their homes over the last year, whether for the job, school, or notably social and leisure activities.

Online games searches increase 52 percent

The search results are not deceptive. In the last year, the borderless digital world has enabled individuals to spend time with their loved ones, albeit digitally, while also keeping up with whatever it is they need to do. According to the InMobi Report, search in India – 2021 Trends Report, there has been a shift in netizens' online behavior and search preferences based on data collected between April 2020 and June 2021.

According to Rohit Dosi, director of Microsoft Advertising at InMobi, digital content consumption has risen dramatically in recent years. The epidemic has spurred digital adoption, with individuals spending more time on their computers, phone, and tablet displays.

According to InMobi, casual online games with real money gaming components are one of the fastest-growing categories in India, with a 52 percent rise in relevant searches. Online gambling companies such as Purewin have experienced a significant rise in new visitors over the last year.

A separate study by ENV Media, which uses proprietary data from its properties such as Indian affiliate SevenJackpots casino comparison site, found that with nearly half of all smartphone users in India playing mobile games, it is no surprise that online gaming searches have increased in the last year. Both Google Play and Apple's App Store recorded an average of 50 percent gains, according to ENV Media researchers, who added that the pandemic-plagued 2020 also catapulted India to the top of worldwide mobile game download rankings.

Skill gaming popularity will lead to better regulation

Skill-based gaming is still regarded as a fledgling industry that has been operating beneath the radar as India's national and state governments debate how to effectively regulate the business. However, there is no longer any doubt that the increasing adoption of skill-based gaming in the Indian market would pave the way for improved regulation.

According to Bhavin Pandya, co-founder, and CEO of Games24x7, India has rich jurisprudence and the legality of online skill games for money has never been a problem. The Supreme Court has regularly ruled that skill games are legal and constitutionally protected economic activity that can be performed or organized for profit. They feel that the current restriction on online gaming is unlawful, and they have already filed a lawsuit to fight it.

They also feel that it is a normal path of evolution for online real money games, as seen by other nations that finally opted to regulate rather than outlaw such games in the best interests of the government and civic society.

Courts have previously acknowledged that there is no such thing as a pure "skill" game because nearly all games have some element of chance, even if it is little. This already implies that the skill-based gaming sector, which Pandya believes to dominate India's gaming business, is on the right track.

The desire of Indians to pit their wits against others is great, and the use of money as a reward provides the essential flavor, according to Pandya. They think that, unlike in Western nations, this aspect of consumer behavior has resulted in the exponential growth of skill games such as chess, bridge, and rummy in India. Skill gaming will be the driving force in India's gaming sector.

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