23 Truths Revealed About Gambling in India Statistics (2024)

In India, 80% of citizens gamble yearly. However, most gambling activities in India are illegal since the country has only ever known one gambling law, and it’s century-old. That is why it cannot cover the recent developments in gambling, forcing most Indians to gamble illegally. 

The British introduced gambling in India during the British Raj from the 17th century to 1947. The gambling industry quickly grew, forcing the British government to enact The Public Gambling Act of India in 1867.

This read will discuss the stats about India’s developing gambling industry.

Highlights of the Article

• India’s online gambling market is expected to grow annually at an 8.59% rate from 2023 to 2027.
• 12.17 million users can occupy India’s online gambling market by 2027.
• The online gambling market of India could have an average revenue per user of $291.83.
• During the pandemic lockdown, online gambling games showed a 40% growth.
• India comprised 15% of the online gaming traffic during the lockdown to participate in online gambling.
• In 2021, legal sports betting in India was worth over $2 billion.
• The World Cup and Indian Premier League saw 340 million wagers in the country.
• In a 2016 survey, 80.9% of psychiatrists in India counseled gambling addicts.
• The annual growth rate of India’s online gambling market is 29% from 2023 to 2028.

How Much is the Average Lost of Indians When Gambling? 

Most forms of gambling are illegal and unregulated in India. That is why there is limited data on how much Indians lose in gambling activities. However, the country loses $140 million yearly in revenue due to a lack of gambling regulations. 

More numbers can tell us all about the country’s gambling sector.

Indian Online Gambling Market Statistics

During the passing of India’s only gambling law, there was no internet yet. Indians thought of that as a loophole and gambled online. 

In 2020, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu banned online gaming, betting, and gambling. All internet providers must block 132 websites and apps that let Indians gamble online.

Indians still find ways to place bets online, making the data about this industry plentiful. Here are some:

1. Casino games reached a revenue of $39.38 million in 2022.

(Statista)

Casino games are applications that simulate physical casino games. Users also experience more twists and rewards from them. They are part of online gambling because most of them involve real money.

2. By 2027, the online casino games market volume can reach $74.26 million.

(Statista)

This shows an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.22% from 2022 to 2027. The industry will see more users placing their bets on these casino apps. Most online gamblers also prefer this due to the convenience it brings and the bonuses it involves. 

3.India’s average revenue per casino game download was $0.59 in 2022.

(Statista)

Revenues of $0.59 might seem small, but casino games see millions of downloads in India. This is the total breakdown of revenues in India’s casino games download:

As more Indians download casino games, the industry’s revenue will increase.

4. The projected annual growth rate of India’s online gambling market is 8.59% from 2023 to 2027.

(Statista)

Different forms of betting and gambling online make up the market. Some examples are:

• Lottery games
• Online sports betting
• Online casino games

In India, the total revenue combined under the 2023 online gambling industry is $2.72 billion. By 2027, it is expected to amount to $3.77 billion.

5. India’s online gambling market will have 12.17 million users by 2027.

(Statista)

Online gambling is mostly banned across India. But the industry continues to see more users and revenue rise. So, fears of gambling problems also increase in the country. 

Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin demanded the ban of online gambling games and sites. The state government responded by saying they are committed to doing so. 

This is to avoid illegal gambling across India and to prevent the rise of problem gamblers in the country.

6. The average revenue per user (ARPU) in India’s online gambling market could be $291.83.

(Statista)

That is over 23,000 rupees per user in India’s online gambling market. 

No wonder Indians are concerned about this industry’s increasing interest and money. But some citizens are asking for proper online gambling regulation instead of bans. 

Proper regulations should include education of users, firm rules on advertising, and age verification. Doing so can help the government monitor the industry appropriately. 

7. Online gambling games saw a 40% growth during the pandemic lockdown.

(Nikkei Asia)

Games that involve real money had the biggest growth rate during the lockdown. Betting on fantasy sports contributed the most to this spike. These games let Indians earn money quickly and entertain themselves during the lockdown. 

8. India comprised 15% of global gaming traffic during the lockdown.

(Nikkei Asia)

Everybody switched to online mode during the pandemic, even in gambling. During that time, India entered an upward inflection point in global gaming traffic due to the sudden increase of users who gambled online. 

Statistics on Sports Betting in India

Legalizing sports betting in India is complicated due to elaborate laws that vary per state. As for a national sports betting law, the Supreme Court of India has not clarified its stance.

The only states in India that regulate sports betting for now:

• Sikkim
• Nagaland
• Meghalaya

Indians cannot bet on every sport they want. Each state has different sets of sports events to legally bet on. In Sikkim, locals can only wager on the following sports:

• Golf
• Chess
• Cricket
• Football
• Lawn tennis
• Horse racing

Even though that is the case, sports betting is flourishing in India. The numbers below will tell us how much:

9. Legal sports betting in India was worth over $2 billion in 2021.

(smallcase)

In 2021, the global sports betting industry had $57.54 billion in revenue. Sports betting revenue in India made up only 3% of the global total. 

That shows how small the regulated gambling industry is in India despite having one of the largest populations worldwide.

10. In 2021, around 80% to 90% of sports betting revenues in MyBetting India were from cricket.

(Office Chai)

This is no surprise because cricket is the most famous sport in India. The sport originated in England, which British rule introduced during their occupation of India. Cricket surpassed India’s traditional games and became a staple sport.

Official cricket games are widely spectated. Citizens also play it for recreation. It is the type of sport that Indians know best. That is why they bet on it the most.

11. The cricket betting business is set to be worth over $2 billion by the end of 2023.

(Outlook India)

The cricket betting business receives wagers from over 140 million regular bettors in India. During major tournaments, like the Indian T20 League, bettors spike to over 370 million.

Since the pandemic’s peak, the cricket betting industry has kept growing. Mandates became loose, and the industry will only see more increase in revenue. 

12. 340 million Indians bet during the Indian Premier League (cricket) and the football World Cup.

(TAXSCAN)

Usually, 140 million Indians place their wagers in sports. However, when it comes to the Indian Premier League (IPL), viewers and betters flock. 

Matches from that tournament and the World Cup receive the most wagers in India’s sports. That makes them major events in the world of Indian sports betting.

13. In 2022, the bets that Indians placed in Parimatch were around $700,000.

(The Economic Times)

Parimatch is an online betting site that is popular among Indians. With it, they can bet on unregulated games and activities. That is because Parimatch is considered offshore.

During the IPL, Parimatch sees the most number of bettors and revenue. But Indians are allowed to bet on any sports they want, which is something they cannot legally do in their country.

Indian Offline Gambling Statistics

Based on India’s singular gambling law, any activities involving it are illegal. Despite that, Indians still wager on several forms of gambling, like:

• Casinos
• Card games
• Games of skill
• Games of chance
• Prize competitions

Some are regulated in a few states, while others are strictly prohibited nationwide. Despite that, every one of them thrives. Let’s see how much: 

14. Estimates show that 4 in 5 Indians gamble once a year.

(TAXSCAN, Washington Post)

Gambling activities among Indians vary. Some gamble in one activity only, while others bet on multiple forms simultaneously. 

Lottery is one of the legal gambling activities that have the most players, 50 million Indians to be exact. 

15. The offline gambling industry in India will be valued at over $1.2 billion.

(Outlook India)

That value is insignificant compared to other gambling industries in the world. However, consider that the total does not include the following:

• Sports betting
• Cricket betting, which alone has $2 billion in revenue.

Without those 3, India’s offline gambling industry struggles to prosper alone. 

16. In India, prize competitions with a prize pool of more than 1,000 Rupees per month are restricted.

(The Logical Indian, India Code)

India also has strict laws when it comes to prize competitions. The laws prohibit them from betting, participating, and promoting prize competitions that:

• Have beyond 2,000 entries
• Exceed a prize of 1,000 Rupees

By the law’s definition, prize competitions are any content that involves the winning of money. Some examples are:

• Picture prize competitions
• Puzzle prize tournaments
• A cross-word prize contest

17. There are over 1,000 slot machines and video poker machines in Deltin Dama.

(Future Market Insights)

India only has 20 legal land-based casinos in Daman and Diu. Among those few 20 casinos is Deltin Daman, a popular venue for gambling in the territory due to its plentiful slot machines.

Indian Gambling Addiction Statistics

The government and citizens of India are concerned gambling can affect one’s life negatively. This then caused a spike in problems and pathological gamblers in India. 

Some are beginning to take action. For example, Andhra Pradesh banned online gambling due to mental health and addiction concerns. 

The other half of India sees banning would not change anything. Instead, they think the government must pass laws that better regulate and monitor gambling.

Using the data below, we will understand where these concerns are from:

18. Tamil Nadu saw 17 deaths by suicide due to online gambling in the last 3 years.

(Deutsche Welle)

Among the stories of suicide due to online gambling is Bhavani’s. She was a mother of two who lost $24,200 to gambling. That amount does not include the gold jewelry she lost as well. In June 2022, Bhavani took her own life. 

Due to cases like Bhavani’s, Tamil Nadu passed a law prohibiting online gambling in October 2022. 

They did it in hopes of avoiding more deaths happening. But the fear remains as the industry continues to thrive regardless.

19. Children who gamble in India online spend more than $1,000 daily.

(Deutsche Welle, UNICEF)

According to UNICEF, 1 in 3 children is an internet user. They are under 18 years old, yet, they are most exposed to online gambling.

In India, children play online games that involve real money, making them part of the online gambling industry. Most of them develop a dependence on the games they play.

Responsible Netism is a non-profit organization that educates people on proper online behavior. They reported receiving hundreds of calls from concerned parents asking to counsel their children addicted to online gaming.

20. 7.4% of college students in South India admit to being problem gamblers.

(PubMed, PubMed)

Over 5,580 college students participated in this 2016 study in South India. 19.5% of the respondents admit to gambling at least once. Among those students, 413 were problem gamblers.Another study in West India revealed problem gambling is linked with greater academic failures in students. They are also more at risk of substance use and psychological distress.

This is another reason why online gambling must be monitored in India.

21. 80.9% of psychiatrists in India said they tended to patients with gambling addictions.

(ResearchGate)

When it comes to gambling addiction, the addict is not the only one suffering. 62% of the psychiatrists surveyed also had to tend to people affected by problem gamblers.

Sadly, 74% of the psychiatrists admitted they were never taught how to manage gambling addiction. This makes it harder for patients to conquer their addiction and its effects.

Gambling Industry Market Growth in India

The former British government’s restrictions prohibit the gambling sector from reaching its full potential. As a result, India’s gambling market has a slow growth rate. Since consumers are encouraged to gamble illegally, these rules additionally lead the industry to make unfavorable advancements. 

Let’s learn what else is in store for India’s gambling industry with the data below:

22. Since 2021, real money investments in online gambling have been rising at 20% per year.

(IIPS India)

India’s online gambling platforms are seeing the most investments due to their “offshore” labels. Investors are also interested as these online platforms have the potential to be qualified gambling arenas, driving more users to online gambling.

23. India’s online gambling market is set to grow at an annual rate of 29% from 2023 to 2028.

(Market Research)

Experts state that India’s online gambling market shall increase at a 29% CAGR in 2028. This is based on new operators emerging and more Indians gaining interest in the industry. The industry sees more investors and firms if the country projects better gambling laws. 

If, in the future, India decides to change gambling rules, the country could become a hub for large casino companies and providers.

Final Thoughts

The world sees India’s gambling industry as a work in progress. The country has not unlocked its full potential in that sector. 

People throw many suggestions at the Indian government. Some recommend the government legalize gambling and regulate it the best it can. Others think banning is alright and nothing should change.

Regardless, the numbers above indicate that the industry continues to grow. Citizens still find ways to place their bets under the government’s nose. This could either be harmful or acceptable.