The Future Of Online Gaming In India
India is among the nations with expansive online gaming industry. Considering that gambling in this jurisdiction began way before the colonial era, it is no wonder the betting niche is growing significantly.
The Indian gambling economy has faced hurdles, the greatest one being the Covid 19 pandemic, coupled with some stifling gambling laws. Nevertheless, online gambling in India is snowballing.
But how bright is the future of internet gaming in India? Are betting sites like Crazy Time Casino becoming dominant? Is the increase of Indian bettors inevitable, or are the stalling legislators killing the e-gaming industry? Let us find out!
Prehistoric gambling in India
Vibhitaka tree nuts were used as dice in Indian gambling activities before civilization as we know it. Dice games and animal fighting were the primary betting attractions. One of the ancient Indian manuscripts, the Ramayan, indicates gambling was a pastime activity the locals enjoyed.
People put their property at risk aiming to double or triple their rewards with mother luck on their side. By the 15th century, the gambling scene in India was booming, creating a need to legalize the activity.
Beter gaming structures and tax laws were part of this deal. By the time the Europeans landed in India, the gambling industry was ripe for more growth, and the introduction of cricket boosted the wagering scene.
However, a change took place when Britain took over this region. Gambling was criminalized, and the betting dens shut. The criminalization of betting in India brought rise to the underground casinos, with bettors going as far as using their homes as make-shift casinos.
Today, Indians have access to multiple betting activities amidst the confusing gambling regulations in this country. Online wagering is prevalent, with players partaking in multiple games of skill of their liking.
Gambling laws
Even though India still refers to the public gambling act of 1867, land-based and online gaming in India is regulated by each state.Therefore, the national government does not have a say regarding regulatory measures on gambling.
In fact, the Indian parliament can only meddle with wagering affairs in a state if the state lawmakers want to sign into law a gambling-related regulation. And even in this instance, all states have to be on board.
Nevertheless, gambling on games of chance is prohibited in this region. Therefore, players in states that have legalized gambling can only play authentic games of chance and bet on sports. Thankfully, several states have jumped into the pro-gambling bandwagon. These are:
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Daman
- Goa
- Kerala
- Madhya Pradesh
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Punjab
- Sikkim
- West Banga
Goa, Daman, Nagaland, and Sikkim permit both online and brick-and-mortar gaming, and only two of these states, Sikkim and Nagaland, permit online games of chance. And even though games of skill are permitted in India, Telangana ad Arunachal Pradesh prohibit skill gaming within their territory under the 1974 Telangana State Gaming Act.
Unfortunately, bettors in Maharashtra can’t bet since wagering is illegal in that state. The Maharashtra government enforced this law thanks to the Bombay Prevention and Gambling Act of 1887. The rest of the Indian states are seated on the fence regarding this matter.
Aside from Maharashtra, most other states do not mention the illegality ofonline gambling. Needless to say, anyone within the blocklistedregion risks paying a hefty when they are found wagering.
The growth
India has come a long way as far as gambling is concerned. Coming from an era where gambling was illegal, it is impossible not tonotice the change. Thanks to the unavailability of laws to regulate or restrict internet gaming, players across India are having the time of their lives playing the provided internet games.
Online gambling in India is steadily rising, with slightly above 400 million Indians actively enjoying this pastime activity. The industry is increasing at a rapid rate of 30% each year. The pandemic significantly contributed to the growth of the internet gaming scene in India, now that most people had to find ways of occupying their time during lockdown hours.
Research indicates that by 2025, an estimated 50,000 people or more will benefit from onlinegambling-related jobs if the industry keeps growing at this rate.
Most players log in to play games of chance like slots, baccarat, bingo, and craps. Sports gambling is also another gambling option that Indians enjoy, especially cricket. Cricketers within the region contribute to the growth of this industry thanks to paid advertisement campaigns by major online casino brands.
Games of skill are also quite popular among Hindu punters, with poker and remy taking the lead. However, others like chess, blackjack, and roulette still stand in the heart of bettors in India.
What the future holds for Hindu internet gamers
Technology is something that India thrives on, and with the increasing number of discoveries in the tech industry, the online gambling niche is only set to grow bigger and better.Most Indians have access to mobile gadgets, allowing them to wager on the go.
With the consistent increase in this market, it is inevitable for game providers to compete for punter’s attention. Consequently, bettors have a myriad of games to pick from, leaving them spoilt for choice. Aside from the highly engaging games, online casinos in India offer lucrative bonuses to their clients. More gamers find it more exciting to play in a casino offering freebies. And since land-based gambling is prevalently illegal in more than half of Hindu states, most players resort to wagering online. The availability of mobile phones that allow punters to bet on the go makes it much easier to access betting services.
Wrap Up
These and more variables are steadily contributing to wagering growth in India. More players are set to join the internet now that the services are quickly accessible and cheaper.The availability of local payment options, complete with the regional currency, the Rupee, makes it even easier for bettors to join the online gambling nation. Tax laws on betting exercises are underway, meaning that India has finally embraced wagering.