A report released by the IAMAI in early February
2014 states that the country is expected to see over 24.3 crore Internet users
by June 2014. The number of Internet users that are already present in India
have taken the country to being the third largest Internet user base in the world.
But this is only the perspective when considering the number of Internet users.
Online gaming in India goes beyond just the number of Internet users in India.
Why is India a High Potential Market for Online Gaming?
India does not have any laws or regulatory body
controlling the legal aspects of online gaming. This is both a threat and an
opportunity. The lack of laws for online games in India means that there is no
protection for online gaming entrepreneurs in the country. On the other hand,
it does give the Indian gaming industry opportunities to try something new and
different, as long as it does not involve gambling. A card game such as rummy
is an online game that is very popular in the country and requires skill. With
the online interface and large internet user base in India, online gaming has
penetrated far and wide and even into the second and third tier cities with
games such as rummy.
India also believes in quantitative gaming, which means
that an Indian consumer will invest in a play station or an expensive computer
with high quality gaming but may not invest in the game software as much.
Hence, online gaming has higher chances of gaining popularity and growth in
India. The country has people who invest their time in gaming and want more
options. For them, games with higher adrenalin rush online are preferable.
Despite the fact that there is a large consumer base for the black market
gaming arena for high-end games in India, online gaming entrepreneurs need not
be threatened, given the advantage of digital advertising that is a source of
income for free online gaming websites.
One of the greatest opportunities that India has at
present is the diversified culture it is home to. From vernacular languages to
art, dance, music and even literature, this country’s population is alive with
diversification. For example, the matrimonial industry online thrives on the
various cultural diversities in the country and it is time for the online gaming
industry to do the same. The social networking base in India is also an
advantage for the online gaming industry, helping them target audiences better.
