From playing cards to ludo, online gaming culture in India needs no introduction. But what makes it fascinating is that there’s practically a game for everyone, and the choice is unlimited. Industry reports indicate that online game spending across Indian towns has witnessed an almost 16 times surge from 2019 to 2024. Card spending online is also rising, about 175% for metro areas. The industry stats are downright impressive.

• The Indian video gaming market is poised for a significant growth of $1.4 billion by the end of 2028.
• India’s online gaming segment is reportedly the fourth largest among the media and entertainment sectors, expected to reach a figure of INR 231 billion by the end of 2025 alone (a CAGR of 20%).
• According to a 2023 survey, the number of online gamers in India was 442 million, which made us the second largest user base globally after China.
• 90-100 million players were avid gamers, and almost 1 million players formed the esports category for competitive titles, where one out of five gamers were women.

This article offers an insider view into what’s making online gaming a phenomenon in India and what it means for the future. Read on!

The Changing Face of Online Gaming Culture in India

Whether casual gaming on smartphones or online PC games, Indian users increasingly like tournaments and leagues esports companies offer. The trend is most observed across Tier II and Tier III cities, especially with unrestricted access to cheap broadband and an affordable range of smartphones, broadening the user base.

One of the most glaring instances was the pandemic season when games like Teen Patti Online, ludo, and Rummy became more popular than they were. As people stayed back home due to movement restrictions, they increasingly turned towards virtual entertainment, with online gaming and movie streaming being predominant choices.

According to the 2022 FICCI-EY report, there was almost a 40% increase in revenue for transaction-based games, surpassing a whopping 100 billion figure.
In the same year, the percentage of first-time pay-and-play users in India rose to over 65%. In no time, India became a country where every second netizen is a gamer, and every third netizen transacts online to purchase game credits. With emerging technologies like AR, VR, and Blockchain, reliability and security for online gaming also received a boost. To add to the delight, enhanced connectivity, speed, and broad gaming options made way for individuals pursuing full-time gaming careers.

Unmatched Innovation and Government Support For The Gaming Sector

Living in 2025, there are over 300+ online gaming platforms in India where innovation drives the manufacturing of customer-facing products for engagement. These platforms are essentially the forerunners, investing in advanced fields like cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and analytics. Here’s a closer look.

AR/VR Integration

When it comes to innovation in gameplay mechanics, AR and VR have been instrumental forces. Especially for those games where user interactions and physical movements are important, these emerging technologies empower users to dramatically manipulate environments and make the most out of shared virtual spaces. In doing so, these technologies foster newfound camaraderie for multiplayer games mimicking real-time connections.

Cloud Gaming

Cloud gaming has been a boon for gamers, effectively removing the need for high-end hardware. Forget investing in expensive consoles. With cloud-based gaming, players can now play new titles on smartphones, tablets, and even PCs with low specs for extended hours.

Blockchain Integration

Digital asset ownership has been a perennial issue for gamers. That’s where blockchain integration comes in. From in-game items to NFTs, blockchain is the best cue for empowering game developers to shape up tokenized economies right within the gaming framework. Additionally, blockchain supports interoperability across games and different platforms so that players can use the same items for multiple titles. This, in turn, boosts engagement participation for different gaming types.

Besides innovation, the Indian government has also rendered commendable support, ensuring consumer rights and well-being. For example, the 2021 amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules brought new online gaming provisions protecting users from addictive or harmful content.

Additionally, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) went ahead and formulated a self-regulatory framework exclusively for the online gaming sector. This enabled Self-Regulatory Bodies (SRBs) to validate different games throughout the country. Thus, online cash-earning games offered by any intermediary platforms will be strictly regulated via the SRBs, including the prohibition of gambling and ensuring parental controls to prevent mental harm to young gamers.

In recent times, we’ve witnessed how SRBs have been functional in implementing strict guidelines, warning messages, and age-rating systems for online games. Also, gamers now have the option to opt out of a game after reaching their spending limit. India’s leading online game platforms like MPL recognize such amendments clearly, which distinguish them from all kinds of gambling. Besides, it has helped them define permissible games and real money-earning potential for all legit participation, keeping up with industry rules.

Wrap Up

The online gaming culture in India has been here for a long time. Driven by key drivers like new IT rules, simplified legislation, and innovative tech, this sector is going great guns. Thanks to the rapid growth of digital payments and satisfying monetization models, gaming brands shall continue to capitalize through new title launches, events, and other profitable avenues. As long as brand stakeholders and the government continue to join hands, there’s no stopping the all-round growth of online gaming culture in India.