The rush for Indian Real Money Games

Real money games or RMG in short have gone viral pan India since last few years. Although other e- sports and casual games in India are also attracting lots of users every day , RMG stands out of all in terms of Popularity vs Profitability. RMG platforms make a bigger bet as it have been relatively successful in acquiring both profit and growth simultaneously within a short span of time.

Starting from its initial phase to its entry into fantasy sports RMG has evolved a lot. The top RMG played across various parts in India includes Dream11, Ace2Three, Rummy Circle, PokerBaazi, Paytm First Games, QuizWin etc. Fantasy sport platforms or skill based gaming platforms like Dream11 (Fantasy Baseball, Football, Cricket, Kabaddi etc.) and platforms like MPL saw an increment in its user base of over 25x during the year 2016-18. Some factors like Growth in internet and smart phone penetration, high smart phone engagement, digital infrastructure, safe digital payment methods, high engaging gaming content and rapid rise in the young population are providing fuel to this rapid evolution of online money games. In addition to that playing and betting online is more convenient than being physically present at the site at a specific time. Today Indians are connecting with friends or colleagues via these platforms from anywhere at anytime making their lives a bit more interesting and meaningful.

Current demand for various RMG platforms

Indian people seem to prefer Teen Patti’s live version to virtual version as it let the user have live communication with the Dealer. It gives the player the same excitement one experience while playing in a casino. What makes these platforms unique is the way the game developers build it. They made these RMG platforms in such a way that is it very easy to operate and anyone can easily register and bet online with secured digital payment methods.

Another factor which is giving boost to the current adoption of RMG in India is the live online tournaments/competition awarded with money prize. In the year 2019, a chess tournament was conducted by MPL (Mobile Premier League) in which more than 3 Lakh players enrolled for playing chess online from different parts of India. An 18 year old named V.S. Rathanvel won the competition with a prize money of ₹ 5 Lakhs. Since then MPL got success in gathering huge popularity amongst the Indian players. MPL also organised some online quizzes for real money to increase its user base.

Some other examples include Paytm First Games conducting Fantasy Cricket , Rummy and TeenPatti which has seen a 200% increment in its user base during the lockdown.

Another Indian Gaming startup Gameberry , established in the year 2017 has also witnessed a relative increment in its installation and average engaging time per day during the lockdown.

Considering its population amongst Indian customers, RMG developers are currently putting lots of effort to acquire more and more customers in upcoming times. The game developers are also focusing on creating and bringing in some Indian themes to the platforms using the latest technology and innovation to make it more interesting and engaging. They are also developing various table games and card games targeting at some of the Indian players. Although some rules or guidelines act as a thwart to RMG platforms as gambling is prohibited in India according to the Indian gambling law, it will not be wise of anyone to call real money games as gambling . Rather it is skill based gaming in which the player uses his/her skill to improve on the game and bet accordingly. It encourages skills instead of chances. Hence it often does not fall under gambling and can be played inside India. However most of the RMG platforms originally from outside India hence do not have to abide by such regulations if applied.

Indian people are truly enjoying this online mode of real money gaming and instead saying it as gambling Indians are appreciating it as skill oriented gaming which is in return enhancing their skills making them more confident and positive. And that day is not too far when Indians will not hesitate to embrace this gaming as professions as well.

The views expressed here are solely of the author and may not represent organisations’s view point in any form.