For friends and families getting together on religious occasions like Diwali, card games are a part of the festive routine. Teen Patti on Diwali evenings and rummy games at dinner parties have been popular for generations. Card playing tradition as a whole has been one of the most popular forms of recreation in the country for many centuries.
Less than two decades ago, the poker and rummy app started appearing in India. Some sceptics may have wondered that if everyone loves playing these games physically, who at all would play online? As it turns out, millions do.
The adoption of traditional card games from the offline world to online platforms has been swift and resounding.
Card Game Apps Make an Entry
Thanks to the generational popularity of card games in India, almost everyone has a rough idea of how popular card games are. This made it easier for the poker and rummy apps to attract online players.
In an action, adventure or fantasy game, the player has to first understand the plot of the story and the direction(s) in which the gameplay may unfold. Whereas, in card games, this was a lot easier. Once you know the specific card game rules, you can simply play online and check if your expertise is good or needs improvement. If you need improvement, these apps have practice matches to help you hone your skills.
Online card game apps have made inroads into two distinct sections of card game enthusiasts. First, there are the traditional card players. They came with a strong pedigree of expertise in card games. Many of them found online card game apps very convenient as they didn’t have to assemble in one place anymore. Card playing friends could decide on an app and a time and sign in from their respective locations.
Secondly, there were non-players in the offline card game scene. The onlookers, youngsters and amateurs were not sure if they had the expertise to challenge the seasoned players. In card game apps, they found the insights and the practice needed to master the poker and rummy game rules. These apps helped them shed their inhibitions and apprehensions about card games.
Together, these online players form an online card-playing community that numbers hundreds of millions. There are dozens of card game apps in India that have several millions of registered players. Popular app RummyPrime, for instance, has clocked more than 13 million downloads.
Going Desi
As online gaming apps appeared, the choice of going desi soon followed. Even during the peak of Candy Crush Saga’s popularity, Google noted that the number of downloads was higher for several of the traditional Indian card game apps. The co-creator of FarmVille, Mark Skaggs, also conceded that Indian players have a distinct affinity for games that are made for the people of India. This is why global record-breakers like Candy Crush Saga and FarmVille played second fiddle to traditional card games in India.
The main advantage of traditional games is their familiarity across the country, particularly in non-urban locations. Games like ludo, rummy, and teen patti have been played in India for decades and even centuries. In that way, they are embedded into the social fabric of the country. These games have, therefore, found a wider audience as the reach of online games expanded.
India is shipping 145-150 million new smartphones every year, the bulk of it reaching rural regions. At $9.73, India has one of the lowest monthly average broadband costs in the world. These two factors have combined to push the non-urban gamer population in India to 60% of the total gaming community. Notably, more than 90% of gamers in India prefer mobile gaming. The choice of games for these gamers in particular is quite simple - go desi.
The Popularity Continues
The recent revenue figures indicate that the popularity of traditional card games is set to continue in India. In a year when the revenue of fantasy sports in India fell from ₹11,000 crores to ₹8,800 crores, traditional card games continued to grow in online presence.
Online rummy saw a 6% growth in gross gaming revenue in 2024, which took their figure to ₹16,000 crores. Online poker revenue in India grew from ₹1,800 crores to ₹2,100 crores during the same period.
The charm of traditional card games has been the social connection that thrives through them. This connection continues to be enjoyed by millions even through the online format.
The Road Ahead
Traditional card games are a part of the real money games segment of the gaming industry. It is a segment that continues to dominate the numbers, with more than 83% of the industry revenue. These games attract 148 million paying players, who spend around 3.7 hours every week in real money games. With card games like rummy dominating the real money games segment, the popularity of traditional card games is poised to continue in India.
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