Online gaming has gained unprecedented popularity in India. If the number of online gamers are taken into account, India is one of the top 5 mobile gaming markets in the world.
A study into the mobile gaming market gives us solid insights as to why online gaming and particularly online rummy is so popular in India.
The popularity of Indian Rummy
The game of rummy already has a huge fan base in India. Rummy is a traditional card game that has been an integral part of Indian culture. The existing popularity of the offline version has fuelled the popularity of the online one.
Classic Rummy, Junglee Rummy and RummyCircle are among the most popular online rummy platforms where players can try their hands at a number of variations of the card game.
Factors fueling the popularity of the gaming industry
Let’s start by analyzing the requirements for indulging in online gaming. The two basic requirements are access to a device like a laptop, tablet or a smartphone and a solid, uninterrupted internet connection.
Until recently, smartphones were owned only by the upper and the upper middle-class population in India. This has changed dramatically with large multinationals from the portable device industry entering Indian markets with a multitude of choices for laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc. Today most working adults in India can afford and access a smartphone along with access to an internet connection, either through Wi-Fi or through mobile data. This factor has greatly worked in favour of the mobile gaming industry.
Access to card games online
India is a card-playing nation. The majority of popular indoor games in India are card games. Card games like Rummy, Poker, BlackJack and Hearts are regularly played at family get-togethers during festivals and special occasions.
Although it is a game of leisure, players take the stakes very seriously and friendly battles are fought over the game rounds. Since the fast-paced era in today’s times makes it difficult to plan get togethers with family and friends, the online version of the game gives rummy lovers the flexibility of logging in and playing the game from anywhere in the world.
Platforms that offer a safe and secure gaming environment
There are many gaming options available online, but online rummy is the most popular online game by far. This is because the medium has changed but the love for the game and its mass appeal has remained the same, if not increased.
The fears that one might have regarding making online transactions and the fairness of play are dispelled by certified online rummy apps like Classic Rummy, Adda52, Deccan Rummy and many more. These online rummy platforms are armed with an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate which is a digital certificate authenticating the identity of a website and providing an encrypted connection. They offer a secure and safe environment where online transactions are done using secure payment gateways like Paytm and UPI. Also, due to the digital nature of the game, the possibility of foul play due to human error doesn’t exist.
Online Rummy and its many exciting variations
Another factor contributing to the mass appeal of online rummy is the fact that online rummy offers many exciting variations of the game as opposed to the physical version.
The variations include Points Rummy, Deals Rummy, Pool Rummy, and many multi-level and multi-player tournaments which take the thrill of the game to another level.
Huge cash prizes and bonuses
The biggest boost to the popularity of online rummy is provided by digital platforms for online gamers. These apps offer a huge prize pool of money, going upto crores! Multiple rounds of rummy are played at various times of the day, with daily cash prizes, welcome bonuses, free games, cashback on deposits, and lucrative rewards.
This has added to the thrill of the game and given birth to a new set of online rummy players who take the game very seriously and play for the prize money. Some have even turned their passion into a profession by becoming professional rummy players.
Legal aspects of online Rummy
The Supreme Court of India has declared Rummy as a “game of skill” which certifies it as completely legal to play in India. Barring a few states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland, and Telangana, online rummy enjoys legal status in the country.
This has ensured that the stigma of rummy being likened to gambling is worn off and is now accepted as the perfect game offering a heady mix of entertainment and reward.
Easy entry and user-friendly interface
Most rummy platforms have free games or games with entry charges as low as Rs. 10. This lays to rest any doubts that new players may have about trying a few rounds.
One can play these games, hone rummy skills and then graduate to playing serious rounds of online rummy in the big league.
Another insight that online rummy platforms use to design their apps is with rummy being an age-old card game in India, most players shifting to an online platform may not be very tech-savvy. Hence, these online rummy apps offer a very user-friendly interface and keep navigation extremely simple.
Rummy is the most popular card game in India because of the rising number of mobile and internet users in India. The advent of exciting online variations and the lure of big prize money are the key drivers of its popularity in India. Looking at the above factors in the context of the online rummy industry in India, one can safely say that the popularity of online rummy is only going to go up in the future and there’s no looking back for rummy fans.
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