Experts of the Casino Market studio are glad to describe one of the most promising markets. You will learn how iGaming and sportsbook sites work in the country and what content can attract the widest audience.
Features of the Indian Entertainment Niche
The sector is the largest economy in the region, and it has enormous potential. Here, it is profitable to launch casino startups, invest in the development of fintech companies, and successfully scale the business.
Demographic Features
The main advantage of India is the number of residents. The state has the largest population in the world. It is home to more than 1.4 billion people, and this figure is rapidly increasing.
The jurisdiction is characterised by the locals' high interest in the placement of bets.
Research shows that:
- 80% of Indians visit entertainment platforms at least once a year and also participate in lottery drawings;
- 30% of residents regularly play games for money;
- 76% of users have continuous access to the Internet;
- 60% of the audience visits digital portals from mobile devices.
The growing prevalence of smartphones and a high birth rate make India one of the most promising countries for launching and developing iGaming projects. Investments can be planned for 5 or 10 years in advance, given the economic stability of the region.
Different Approaches to Regulation
Officially, the placement of bets is allowed only in a few states, but in practice, people do it constantly on offshore sites. The local government does not interfere with this. On the contrary, the authorities promise to streamline the legal framework in the coming years, making this sector of the economy completely lawful.
How gambling is regulated in India:
- Casinos. Their work is allowed in Sikkim and Goa, as well as in the combined territory of Daman and Diu. To legally accept bids, operators need to obtain a certificate. The licence is issued by federal supervisory authorities. Entrepreneurs can run online platforms, land-based halls in 4- and 5-star hotels, as well as establishments on sea vessels.
- Games of skill. This includes poker, blackjack, baccarat, and other products where the outcome depends not only on luck but also on the logic and mathematical abilities of users. A permit to provide such entertainment can only be obtained in 2 states: Sikkim and Nagaland.
- Bingo and lotteries. They are regulated by the central government of India. A company that has received a licence can organise draws throughout the country in online and offline formats.
- Betting. In most states, traditional sportsbook services are prohibited. In Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, and other regions, you can get a certificate that will allow the acceptance of bets on horse racing. Nagaland is the only territory that regulates virtual gambling. The Rajasthan government is planning to regulate fantasy sports in the near future.
People can freely play on offshore sites. The Indian authorities do not block foreign platforms. Users spin digital reels without problems and quickly withdraw their winnings.
Technological Superiority
The jurisdiction is home to many fintech companies and international startups. Biopharmaceuticals, software engineering, aircraft manufacturing, and other promising industries are successfully scaling here. Gambling does not lag behind other sectors of the economy, becoming a safe and promising business area.
According to Statista, at the beginning of 2009, only 1.5% of locals had mobile devices. In 2024, this figure increased to 71%. Most experts call India the country with the greatest potential for the growth of smartphones. It is logical that in such conditions, the online casino direction will also develop rapidly.
Today, more than half of players place bets on mobile applications. They use gadgets from Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Realme, and other IT corporations.
The region has a strong banking sector and modern settlement methods. India has its UPI financial system, which unites dozens of commercial and state banks from Asia. It is also possible to transfer funds through the Paytm service, which is approved by the local government.
Cryptocurrencies are legalised in the country as well.
Players can make deposits and withdraw prizes in:
- Bitcoin;
- Litecoin;
- Ethereum;
- Throne, and other promising tokens.
Favourite Games of Indians
The preferences of residents are quite diverse. They like both innovative slot machines and traditional card solutions.
Table Entertainment
In this category, it is worth highlighting the following positions:
- Teen Patti. This is a version of poker, which is extremely in demand among the local population. A classic deck of 52 elements is used for distribution. From 3 to 6 can participate in one session, each of whom receives 3 face-down cards. The goal here is to collect the strongest hand.
- Andar Bahar. In this traditional solution, customers play against the dealer. They take turns drawing cards, and users must predict which side of the same value will appear. There are 2 values available for guessing: Andar (inside) or Bahar (outside).
- Baccara. This popular French entertainment was brought to India by colonists in the 15th century. To win, it is necessary to collect a sum equal to 9 or as close to this figure as possible. To form a combination, only 2 or 3 cards can be used.
- Rummy. The goal is to be the first to get rid of all cards, making different combinations of numbers on the table. You can create rows of cards of the same suit or various elements of the same value. From 2 to 4 people can participate in one round.
- Poker. Traditional Texas Hold'em attracts users with simple and clear rules, dynamic gameplay, as well as the ability to form different winning combinations. This is the most popular solution of this kind in the world, which is well-liked among Indians too.
- Jhandi Munda. The product includes 6 dice. Their faces depict a heart, a spade, a diamond, a club, a crown, and a flag. Players should collect as many points as possible faster than their opponents. Scores are awarded for correctly guessing the symbols that appear on the dice.
A mandatory requirement for all entertainment in this category is the availability of certificates of conformity. Independent verification is carried out by eCOGRA, QUINEL, iTechLabs, and other international centres.
Digital Slots
Indians prefer cluster and linear video games dedicated to such topics as animals, myths, fairy tales, and adventure, as well as fruit-themed mixes. Bets in such solutions bring 40% of the total turnover in the country's gambling industry, so this type of content must be present in each online casino.
Players like options with a traditional, slightly old-fashioned design. When choosing a slot machine, they are primarily guided by bonus functions. The audience prefers digital entertainment with fixed and progressive jackpots, generous incentives, and risk rounds.
The list of the most popular games includes:
- Mystery Joker;
- Hot 777;
- Mega Money Multiplier, etc.
Products with Real Croupiers
These are live versions of the above-mentioned card games: Andar Bahar, Teen Patti, baccarat, blackjack, and others. Customers often choose the multiplayer mode, but there are also those who prefer to meet the dealer face-to-face.
This segment is only gaining popularity in the Indian market. Clients like live studios, the design of which includes national symbols.
An important nuance is the hardware of virtual locations. Studios must be equipped with the latest technology and provide continuous shooting from different angles.
Betting Vertical
Cricket is the most in-demand sport in India. The country has a National League (IPL). Its matches are covered at the state level.
The population is proud of such legendary players as Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, M.S. Dhoni, and many others. Thanks to their efforts, the jurisdiction has repeatedly won world championships and Olympic games.
Fans of entertainment for money like to bet on:
- football;
- tennis;
- basketball;
- field hockey;
- golf;
- chess;
- kabaddi (traditional wrestling).
How to Promote iGaming Projects in the Indian Market
The country is home to more than 800 million online users, and most of them access the Internet through mobile gadgets. Therefore, when developing marketing creatives and landing pages, it is worth adapting them for smartphones and Apple devices.
Features of promoting casinos and sportsbook resources:
- Multichannel. Telegram is a favourite messenger among Indian players. The platform allows advertising of gambling entertainment, as well as the creation of thematic channels for interaction with the audience. In addition to Telegram, the country’s residents use Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, as well as visit YouTube, Yahoo, Google, Reddit, and other popular portals.
- Context. Understanding the culture of India will allow you to form campaigns that will resonate with customers. Operators can add photos of famous characters or celebrities, place emphasis on a luxurious lifestyle, and remind about local holidays and customs. However, entrepreneurs should not use images of cows and other sacred symbols.
- Design. Clients like engaging content with bright and recognisable visuals, as well as smooth transitions between frames. Video is the most popular option. Creatives with dynamic inserts are sure to attract gamblers and will definitely not go unnoticed.
- Localisation. Entertainment sites must be presented in 2 national languages: English and Hindi. Others can be added too (for example, Bengali, Telugu, or Marathi) depending on which Indian state business owners plan to work in.
- Payment transactions. A mandatory item is support for transfers using UPI and Paytm. These financial services are trusted by the local population.
The Main Things about Launching a Gambling Startup in India
The region is extremely promising for opening online casinos or bookmakers’ offices on the Internet.
Key aspects that operators need to take into account:
- The country does not have a unified approach to regulating entertainment for money. In some places, it is possible to run iGaming and betting sites, while in others, only digital lotteries and poker rooms are allowed. The government does not interfere with the activities on offshore platforms.
- India is the most densely populated country in the world. It has well-developed technologies, which create favourable conditions for launching and scaling casino businesses.
- The most in-demand board entertainment includes national symbols. These are Teen Patti, Andar Bahar, Jhandi Munda, Rummy, etc. Players also like digital slots, live games, lotteries, bingo, and sportsbook options.
- It is important to use different approaches to the promotion of gambling portals. It is important to take into account localisation, ensure variability of settlement methods, and create a recognisable design.
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