It is understood that for the industry to succeed, each country must fight and develop its focus areas to stay on top. India is no exception, as it encompasses over 400 gaming companies serving over 420 million online gamers. Read along to learn more about the history of Indian gambling, its market growth, key statistics, and more in our informative article.
Introduction to Gambling in India
In recent years, online gambling in India has had a surge and an uprise, providing a highly competitive market. This has encouraged gaming companies and online casinos to strive to be better and better and provide gamblers with the best possible experience.
This may come in the form of delivering the most popular games, features, bonuses, and other key aspects that make a casino great. Another main point that needs to be discussed is the technological evolution of gambling products in 2024.
Machines have become more powerful, allowing games to be graphically intensive and beautiful to look at. Not only that but also gaming on mobile devices has never been stronger.
We must mention the legality of some online operators. The best gambling sites in India will always be licensed, safe, and secure, but some users may be duped into accessing a fraudulent casino that is only there to steal your money.
As the gambling industry is on the rise, such illegal operators have raised in numbers too. It is important for every user to double-check and research the casino they’re playing in to make sure it’s legitimate.
History of Gambling in India
Legal gambling in the country has always been a grey area. As of the time of writing this review, only three states have fully legalized it – Goa, Daman, and Sikkim. Ten casinos in Goa exist, while Casino Sikkim and Mahjong are in the state of Sikkim. This is the situation of land-based gambling in India.
When it comes to online gambling, the situation is a bit different. Federal laws explicitly prohibit online betting in India, while some states have laws against it. This may be the case, but it is still not illegal to partake in online gambling activities when using an offshore casino site.
The Information Technology Act 2000 is the governing body that regulates cyber activities in India. It does not specifically prohibit the partaking of gambling activities in the country, which is good for Indian gamblers.
Gambling Industry Growth Trends
When looking at the gambling statistics for India[1], we can see an uprise in gambling and sports betting activities in the country as the years go by. The revenue each year is 20 to 30% higher compared to the last.
Sports betting takes the larger part of the market, but in general, both industries grow exponentially year by year. Some factors contributing to this may be:
- More players are attracted to the online gambling industry.
- Casino sites are improving their offerings.
- The industry is becoming increasingly popular worldwide.
- Technological advancements push the industry forward.
- Software developers make exceptional games every year.
With the current rate, the scene of online gambling in India is expected to grow annually at an 8.59% rate from 2023 to 2027. In total, 12.17 million users can occupy India’s online gambling markets and provide an average revenue per user of $291.83.
Key Statistics: Betting and Gaming in 2024
Indian gamblers prefer all types of activities, which further makes the industry evolve. Online gambling games alone got a 40% growth from 2018 to 2024, and this number will surely rise as the years go by. Land-based gambling is also thriving, thanks to it being legal in three states in India.
Sports betting is an area where the numbers rise the most. Statistics show that it is an even larger industry compared to standard casino gaming in the country. As of the time of writing this review, Sikkim, Nagaland, and Meghalaya are the three states where sports betting is regulated and legal.
Indians cannot bet on every sport, as some are prohibited. The allowed ones in the state of Sikkim are:
- Golf
- Chess
- Cricket
- Football
- Lawn Tennis
- Horse Racing
The sports betting market in 2021 was worth over $2 billion. The market in question made only 3% of the global total, however. This goes to show that the regulated gambling industry in the country is small, even though it has one of the largest populations worldwide.
A large portion of the Indian population gamble. Now that online gambling is on the rise, it has never been more convenient to partake in the activity. Demographic stats show that around three-quarters of the Indian gamblers are below the age of 45. See the table below for more details.
| Age | Percentage |
| 18-24 | 22% |
| 25-40 | 35% |
| 41-56 | 28% |
| 57-75 | 16% |
Statistics show that this isn’t exclusive to India, as the situation in other countries is similar. There are exclusions, as the average gambler in Brazil is estimated to be around 39 years old, which opposes the demographic of young gamblers in India.
Current Regulations Governing Gambling
The current regulations in India are as we mentioned – land-based gambling is legal in only three states, while the online market is highly prohibited unless it’s an offshore site. The best online casinos in India are all offshore operators who accept Indian players.
These terms are subject to change because the market is hitting such an uprise that the government itself may be losing money unless they act and make the market freer. Only time will tell.
Casinos and games are regulated by state-level laws in India[2], and their digital forms also fall within the ambit of the same laws. There is a chance of games being hit by the prohibitions on a state level.
Technological Advancements in Gambling
The industry is advancing at a steady pace, but a substantial portion of that is possible thanks to the technological advancements in gambling. Games become more intense with better graphics, websites become more accessible and easier to use as more and more features get added.
As software developers are constantly optimizing their games, the Indian mobile gambling market is growing stronger and stronger each year. Gaming companies can take advantage of the latest technology, such as 5G connectivity, allowing gaming from any location in the country.
Mobile processors are also becoming increasingly stronger and allow games with high-fidelity graphics to be more defined and beautiful. A lot of the best gambling sites in India have dedicated mobile apps, too, allowing easy access to the casino’s game catalog.
Challenges Facing the Gambling Industry
Becoming increasingly apparent, it is obvious that some challenges and difficulties may arise in the industry.
The key factors that drive the industry forward are – technological advancement, mobile gaming, games growth, security, and licensing. Breaking these down leaves us with a conflicting situation. Technology will, at one point, limit progress, while ideas for games will also decrease.
Unless a staggering change occurs that breaks the routine, online gambling will eventually reach a spot where no future developments and advancements can be reached. If we look at some statistics, as of now, nearly 60% of the users gamble on a personal computer, leaving around 40% on mobile.
This goes to show how apparent mobile gambling is, and what it may cost to lose technological advancement in this field. Casinos must adapt to the new trends of the industry and constantly deliver new and better content for their players.
This brings us to our last point – casino security and illegal gambling. An online operator must always have a valid state license and a secure platform to ensure the safety of its players. This is a big challenge that the gambling industry is facing, as illegal casinos are on the rise and negatively impact the growth of the market.
Future Outlook: Predictions for Beyond 2024
In 2024, the projected revenue of the Indian gambling market is expected to reach upwards of $2,9 billion. A staggering increase of what we have had up until this point. By 2028, the projected revenue growth rate is expected to be around 6.49%.
The revenue in the gambling market is projected to be around $284 per user from 2024 upwards, and the user count itself may rise to 12.7 million by 2028.
Sports betting is expected to have a significant hit as well. All of this leads to the prospect that the online gambling market in India will experience a large surge in popularity. This rise is expected to occur because of chnological advancements and mobile gaming progression.
Responsible Gambling and Social Responsibility
Responsible gambling in India is an especially important aspect as well. Gambling can become an addiction and is considered a serious illness. It is important to always gamble for fun. You should know your limits and when it is time to stop. This is especially true for high rollers.
To combat this, casinos in India have partnered with the most popular responsible gambling organizations. Some of them include GamStop and BeGambleAware[4]. Before playing at an online gambling site, make sure to look at the bottom of the page and make sure such organizations are listed.
There are support numbers you can call and talk to a real person who can help you beat problem gambling. This applies to all forms of gambling and is great advice for many people who have a gambling addiction.
Conclusion: The Future of Gambling in India
It is time to conclude our article regarding the gambling scene in India and provide you with our concluding thoughts and remarks.
We covered the main point – the development of online gambling in India. It is an ever-growing industry, filled with difficulties. We covered the ways the top gambling sites in India stay competitive and provide the best possible experience for their players.
We mentioned the legality of the gambling market in India – it is a tough situation with only three states explicitly allowing it, but regardless, it is still thriving. Growth caused by technological advancements is inevitable and is seen strongly in the gaming market in the country.
Regulations are strong, and statistics show what the prospect and outlook is for the gambling scene beyond 2024. And as always, we did mention the importance of responsible gambling and how to combat addiction.
Overall, gambling has never reached such a high point. We are excited to see where it will go from here and what modern technology will bring to the table as mobile devices continue to improve and operators continue to provide new and exciting features and games.