Which States In India Gamble Online The Most?

Insider Hard Data Ranks States By Generated Casino Traffic

The global online gambling market, currently valued at $60 billion, has seen significant growth in recent years, and with more and more people turning to virtual platforms for their entertainment and chance to win, the market is forecasted to grow further by 11.34% a year and exceed $100 billion by 2028.

India is hardly an exception to this global trend, and online gambling has gained considerable popularity across different states and union territories, driven by young demographics, affordable smartphones, and cheap data plans, among other factors.

At the same time, the nation’s diverse cultural, socio-economic, and legal landscape has led to different states embracing online gambling at varying rates. Information on the regional popularity of online roulette in India, or any other classic casino game, is scarce because this industry rarely publishes business reports.

 

Which States Are At The Forefront Of Online Gambling?

A recent insider data-based study by Esse N Videri Media (ENV Media), however, unveils some exclusive insights into the specific traction gained by online gambling offerings across the Union.

The detailed analysis of nearly six months’ worth of organic player visits and acquisitions data by the ENV research team shows that Maharashtra takes an undisputed lead among the states that emerge as frontrunners in generating online gambling traffic, accounting for a significant share of 17.4% of all Indian users.

Telangana (9.9%), West Bengal (9.3%), and Karnataka (9.3%) occupy the next three spots, with similar user shares gravitating close to the 10 percent mark.

Uttar Pradesh (8.2), Tamil Nadu (8.1%), and the National Capital Region of Delhi (8.1%) are the next batch of states ranked according to their contribution to national online gambling traffic and also deserve a mention.

 

Casino Traffic Volumes Correspond To Economic Development

If we compare each state’s contribution to the overall online casino traffic in the country with its population, we can observe a number of discrepancies which consistently find their explanation in socio-economic factors and data compiled by ENV.

Bihar, for example, has an identical, if not larger, population than the leader Maharashtra (123.1 vs 124.8 million), yet Bihar has four-and-a-quarter times smaller user share of 4.1%.

As if by coincidence, Maharashtra’s GDP per Capita ($10,477) is exactly 4.37 times bigger than Bihar’s ($2.395). Public data on poverty rates (17.35% vs 33.74%) and Human Development Index (HDI) (0.696 vs 0.576) confirm the significance of economic development for people’s ability to enjoy paid entertainment.

Bihar’s neighboring state – Uttar Pradesh, fares just a little better with a slightly lower poverty rate – 29.43%, and a bit higher GDP per Capita – $3,635, and HDI – 0.596. Consequently, its twice bigger population of 237.8 million generates exactly two times bigger online traffic – 8.2%.

Similar observations can be made throughout the data samples, and the HDI map of India (2018) remarkably resembles a map of relative online gambling activity.

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Praneet Samaiya: Entrepreneur, Movie Critic, Film Trade Analyst, Cricket Analyst, Content Creator