Tanushree Basuroy
Research expert covering India
Online gaming in India - statistics & facts
Games have been an intrinsic aspect of recreation in India right since ancient times. Board and dice games such as chess and snakes and ladders have their origins in Indian history, tracing back to the Indus Valley civilization. In today's times, the gaming industry is undergoing yet another massive evolution because of the mobile revolution. Investments from big players such as Alibaba, Tencent, Nazara, and Youzu have led to a rapid growth of gaming in India.
However, the introduction of the 28% GST on online gaming by the Indian government in 2023 has decelerated the market's growth. Moreover, the mounting uncertainty regarding real money gaming (RMG) regulations has resulted in headwinds in the Indian online gaming market.
Besides this, Indian users have also exhibited an affinity for eSports. In the years to come, the eSports market is likely to expand significantly in terms of revenue, viewership, and the number of professional players.
Given India’s reputation as one of the world’s largest mobile app markets, mobile games remain a key focus of app publishers in the country. Among them, game publishers such as Gametion Technologies and Moonton have rapidly risen to the top. Hypercasual games remained the genre of choice among Indian gamers, followed by simulation and action games. What was also worth noting was Indian gamers’ willingness to spend more on mobile gaming with the passing of each year, signaling a dynamic future for the market.
Industry highlights and leading game genres
The market value of the gaming industry in India grossed over two billion U.S. dollars and was estimated to almost quadruple by fiscal year 2027. The number of new job opportunities in the country's gaming industry is a clear indicator of the constant evolution of this sector with around 60,000 jobs available in the market. The Indian gaming market is especially lucrative for game producers and designers. Real money games were among the chief revenue earners within this sector.However, the introduction of the 28% GST on online gaming by the Indian government in 2023 has decelerated the market's growth. Moreover, the mounting uncertainty regarding real money gaming (RMG) regulations has resulted in headwinds in the Indian online gaming market.
Growing interest in fantasy sports
Within the RMG segment, fantasy sports has increasingly played an important role. Indians are staunch sports lovers, with cricket being almost revered by fans across the South Asian country. Cricket tournaments such as the T20 World Cup and the Indian Premier League have resulted in a growing interest in fantasy sports. Mobile Premiere League and Dream 11 were among the leading gaming startups to have attained unicorn status. The latter was also the official sponsor of the IPL until My11Circle outbid it for the sponsorship rights in 2024.Besides this, Indian users have also exhibited an affinity for eSports. In the years to come, the eSports market is likely to expand significantly in terms of revenue, viewership, and the number of professional players.
The near monopoly of mobile gaming
As the country with the largest youth population in the world, India is embracing the new generation's interests in digital sports and entertainment. Although the popularity of gaming consoles such as PlayStation and Xbox continue to grow amongst Indian consumers, much of the gaming population chooses to play on their mobile devices. Indian mobile gaming is growing at a rapid rate due to the development and affordability of smartphones.Given India’s reputation as one of the world’s largest mobile app markets, mobile games remain a key focus of app publishers in the country. Among them, game publishers such as Gametion Technologies and Moonton have rapidly risen to the top. Hypercasual games remained the genre of choice among Indian gamers, followed by simulation and action games. What was also worth noting was Indian gamers’ willingness to spend more on mobile gaming with the passing of each year, signaling a dynamic future for the market.
