The Rise of Fantasy Sports and Online Games

The online gaming market is booming with technology. Now, fantasy sports and online games are not only for entertainment purposes. Online games are platforms to show your skillset and use your knowledge to win exciting rewards. Since the launch of the first video game in 1950, the online game has never stopped growing.

Online Gaming Business Across the World

In the year 2020, the global gaming market was approximately $62 million. As per the statistics, the business will be worth $300 billion by 2026. Mobile gaming makes almost 50% of the share market and generates revenue worth $80 billion. Online gaming is the family of streamliners, developers, publishers, gaming arenas, coaches, and 2.5 billion users across the world.

The start-ups of online gaming have grown in India, in the last few years and attracted huge funding from both domestic and foreign investors of more than $ 1 million. The shares of gaming platforms are split between the US and China equally 24 % each, in the Asia-Pacific excluding China is 23%, Latin America has 4%, Canada has 2% and lastly, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East holds 23 % of shares.

Even after such huge success and a big user base, the Indian government is not considering the online game legal. In various states of India, playing fantasy sports is not allowed and is considered gambling. Pandemic has just doubled the growth of the online games and fantasy sports industry in India in terms of both fantasy sports app development & fantasy sports app platforms.

Government should look at online gaming with an open mind and understand it in-depth, instead of considering all online games, gambling. Government can target betting and gambling but should spare fantasy sports. However, fantasy sports can help the government to generate huge revenue and increase the economy of the country.

Types of Online Gaming

Fantasy Sports
One of the most popular gaming platforms for sports fans. Online fantasy is completely different from other gaming styles. The user creates their team online of real players playing out there on the ground. The user’s performance completely depends on the player and real-life statistics of the game.
IPL is the most beloved format of Fantasy Sports in India. Along with playing the game, many users religiously follow the score and live matches on the fantasy Sports platforms. It is not a game of chance; you need skills and knowledge of the game to play and win rewards. “NITI Aayog” has released guidelines to play fantasy sports. Users can play fantasy sports for free and real money.

The fantasy sports industry is growing and the user base is increasing exponentially. Due to the involvement of money and few cases on the fantasy platform, the government considered it as a gambling platform and doesn’t consider it legal on the central level. The online fantasy platforms follow all the rules of the Advertising Standards Council of India.

The government has asked state governments to issue guidelines to play fantasy sports.

User base and Revenue

The revenue generated by fantasy sports in 2020 is Rs 2470 crore. 10 crore people play fantasy sports in India and almost 80 crore people watch the game.

Online Rummy
Rummy is a very popular online card game with a huge user base. Rummy is a game of skill; it demands memorizing the discarded card and the ability to calculate the probability of winning the game. The player should be a keen observer and all his/her game depends on the undistributed cards. It can be played for free or for money. The victory and loss in the game depend on the user.
User base and Revenue

According to the reports in 2019, the online rummy was worth $335 million in the Indian market and will probably grow up to $1.4 in 2024.

The user is solely responsible for winning or losing the game.

Electronic Sports
It is also known as esports, a game based on skill. eSports are played in video games format and are conducted in both online and offline mode. There are numerous tournaments conducted on esports. Numerous electronic forms are live telecasts of sports like cricket, football, etc.
User base and Revenue

In 2021, the US global market of esports is estimated to reach $1.08 million. North America and Asia are the largest consumers of esports. All the esports market revenue is generated from sponsorships and advertising. 474 people watch esports worldwide in 2021, the numbers will be increased up to 577 million in 2024.

Esports is a recognized game by the Olympic Council of Asia and the International Olympic Committee when India won a medal in Asian Games 2018.

Online Poker
Online Poker is the online mode of the offline game that requires both skill and luck. People can play the game with real money. Players call and raise the real bets which involve money. Due to the involvement of money and betting, it seems to be illegal and gambling.
User base and Revenue

The poker industry is growing in India at the rate of 35% to 40% every year. At present India has 3 million active users of online poker.

Final Words

All the online games which involve money are eagerly waiting for the NITI Aayog’s final guidelines to run a smooth gaming platform. The government approval will help the online games to conduct numerous tournaments and generate huge revenue. Hope government will soon legalize online games which involve money.

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.