Gambling is an entertainment-based pastime that is active in one form or another in virtually every corner of the world. Every country has other types of gambling that are ingrained in their culture. These have proliferated throughout history despite legal prestige. that recreational betting enjoys nowadays in some countries. When it comes to legality, many countries on all continents are taking a much more lax stance than ever towards gambling activities, seeking to reap the tax gains generated through this practice. Much of this is also due to the sometimes less taboo nature of sports and gambling betting achieved in the 2020s.
In India, gambling has been a contentious issue, and each state has a different stance on the matter. For example, Daman, Sikkim, and Goa have allowed casinos to operate within their borders, and Sikkim, in particular, has done quite well. -Developed lotteries. However, when it comes to seeking luck remotely from India, there is no federal law that prohibits gambling at online casinos or employing web betting accounts to put your sporting wisdom to clever use. Yes, it is true that some Indian regions have passed laws in recent years that explicitly ban online gambling. But since the source of offshore platforms accepting India is so huge, that hasn’t stopped the number of citizens of the world’s most populous country who decide to gamble from increasing. Betting on various sporting events.
Thus, the dramatic expansion of such entertainment or amusement activities, whatever they are called, has given rise to a distinct subculture in India. And we’re talking about that here.
Cricket is undoubtedly the most popular game in South Asia. According to Sports Quotes and Facts, around 2. 5 billion people watch it, adding around 1. 1 billion in India. On televisions, IPL (Indian Premier League) matches regularly attract over a hundred million viewers flock to the screens and according to sources, around nine out of ten Indian game enthusiasts watch cricket from time to time. .
The rise of web sports betting has only contributed to the expansion of the sport, as sites catering to Indians offer live streams of T20 matches, bringing cricket to the masses. Not only that, but those hubs are increasing the point of fan engagement in matches through betting, which further attracts the audience. This has contributed to India forming a colossal cricket industry that generates billions of dollars every year. Run through the BCCI, or Cricket Control Board, this sector generates really significant profits through advertising. , broadcast deals, franchising, sponsorships, merchandising, ticketing, and more.
Experts expect the remote sports betting market to generate $1. 7 billion of profit in India this year, and it is on track to rake in $2. 47 billion by 2027. Moreover, in the next 4 years, projections estimate that the number of active internet gamers in India will reach 12. 17 million.
Needless to say, the global COVID pandemic has particularly affected online gaming traffic in India, with pandemic-induced lockdowns leading to a 15% increase in web gambling activity in India. According to the available data, the average age of the popular Indian sports bettor is twenty-eight years old. These bettors mainly like to bet on major occasions such as the FIFA World Cup or cricket, and they also like to stick to IPL matches. The competitions discussed are basically to blame for the 340 million bets placed every year in India.
Therefore, other people in their 20s and 30s basically shape India’s online gambling culture. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as those teams are tech-savvy and have more revenue streams to spend on entertainment than their elders. To limit those businesses, young Indians seem to be looking for tactics to keep scratching the game.