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India is on the brink of witnessing a gaming revolution that is shaping the global industry. With 590 million gamers and industry projections estimating the market to reach INR 66,000 crores at a growth rate of 14.5%, as compared to the global growth of 8% (CAGR). India is now poised to become a billion dollar gaming powerhouse outpacing growth globally.

A large contributor to this sea change is mobile gaming. India has now become the second-largest mobile gaming market by downloads, with figures 3.5 times higher than the US or Brazil. As per a recent Lumikai report, 23 million new gamers from the country joined in FY24, with weekly playtime shooting up by a notable 30%. Backed by $2.8 billion in investments and significant job creation potential, gaming is becoming a key pillar of India’s digital economy.

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Nitish Mittersain, CEO & Joint MD at Nazara Technologies, says that the evolution exceeds beyond mere numbers. He underscores, “In a world where gaming is becoming a cultural and economic force, India is no longer just a consumer market, but also becoming a maker. With scale, talent, and strategic capital, Indian companies are rewriting the rules, growing from local leaders to global powerhouses.”

The country’s mobile-first ecosystem, enormous internet penetration, and tech-savvy youth have made it a fertile ground for gaming, while what’s also changing is how games are being made, distributed, and funded.

According to Anuj Tandon, Partner India & UAE at BITKRAFT Ventures, “The Indian gaming industry is experiencing a significant resurgence. A large talent pool and innovative narrative developers are fostering ecosystem expansion, leading to the creation of globally marketable games. Recognizing the emerging prominence of the Indian market, BITKRAFT is looking to make strategic investments to support its development as a vital contributor to the international gaming & entertainment sector.”

With the gaming sector in India empowering the larger community, content, and creators across the country, games are increasingly interactive among larger audiences, and platforms are working to intrigue new-age streamers and influencers from tier 2 & 3 cities in India.

Speaking about the shift in the Indian gaming market, Piyush, Founder & CEO of Rooter, “India has witnessed a significant surge in in-app purchases by gamers over the past three years, driving industry revenue growth at a 40% CAGR. Once a challenging market to monetize, improved micro-transaction behavior and effective pricing strategies are now encouraging gamers to spend more for enhanced experiences. Content creators are leveraging streaming platforms like Rooter to collaborate with publishers and raise awareness about games and their assets. Over the last two years, Rooter has unlocked multiple monetization channels, engaging with over 100 brands, numerous gaming publishers, global platforms, and gift card partners to create scalable revenue opportunities.”

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The rise in engagement is paving the way for real business opportunities. Casual games particularly have opened new doors for monetization via in-app purchases, ads, partnerships, and sponsorships especially when game access is embedded seamlessly into daily routine platforms.

Yashash Agarwal, CEO & Co-founder of Gamezop, explains, “The world is waking up to where the real action in gaming lies, and that’s India. A projected revenue CAGR of 14.5% – nearly double the global average, is a clear sign that India is not just part of the global gaming story, we’re writing the next chapter.

Web gaming, in particular, is seeing explosive traction, and India is leading the charge. We’re witnessing a new wave of native users turn to web games for their accessibility, speed, and immersive play – no downloads, no wait time, just instant fun. What’s equally exciting is that India is not just consuming web games at scale; it’s also emerging as a powerhouse for web game development.

From an infrastructure perspective, we find ourselves in a better position than ever before. Devices are becoming smarter and faster, and with 5G technology, smartphones today have more capabilities than ever. As a result, people are spending more time online, leading to a surge of apps and websites across categories. At Gamezop, we’ve seen how seamlessly web games can plug into the everyday digital lives of Indian users across news, entertainment, utility, and fintech platforms. With the right regulatory and infrastructure support, India could very well define the future of web gaming.”

Meanwhile, on the development front, the industry is seeing a shift toward homegrown innovation. Indian studios have evolved from providing services like localizing global titles to creating original games that are performing well on the global stage.

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Anurag Choudhary, Founder & CEO of Felicity Games, puts it plainly, “India is not just becoming a billion-player market,  it’s emerging as a powerhouse for innovation in mobile gaming. With a young, connected population and a rapidly evolving developer ecosystem, we’re seeing global-quality titles being built and scaled from here. At Felicity Games, we’re proud to be part of this movement by publishing Indian games for global audiences, backed by strong unit economics and technology-led operations.”

With supportive regulation, sustained investment, and a stark rise in talent, India’s gaming sector is reportedly estimated to reach around INR ~500,000 Crores  in value by 2034. India with the growth, innovation, and the large user base is set to emerge as a billion-dollar global giant, surpassing the global growth and setting new benchmarks.

International Game Technology PLC (IGT) announced that the Company will unveil its latest portfolio of solutions for the Asia-Pacific market at G2E Asia 2025 at The Venetian Macao, May 7-9 in stand A801. IGT will display a tailored suite of regionally attuned multi-level progressive link and standalone titles, along with the IGT ADVANTAGE casino management system (CMS). IGT’s innovative G2E Asia 2025 portfolio is designed to deliver enhanced player entertainment, increase customer loyalty, drive performance and meet the needs of the local market.

“Over the past 12 months, IGT has seen clear results in our realigned focus for Asia, and at G2E Asia 2025, we will expand upon this successful strategy with a product portfolio designed to deliver even more depth and entertainment to operators and players. IGT’s global strength, paired with our localized focus, allows us to develop compelling offerings that provide variety across casino floors and will help increase our regional footprint for our electronic gaming machine and systems portfolios,” said Dallas Orchard, IGT Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Gaming APAC.

“With the recent appointment of new talent and partnerships, IGT remains focused on strengthening our commitment to the region by delivering a compelling product portfolio at G2E Asia. In addition to new multi-level progressive links, like the global sensation Tiger and Dragon and the locally developed Ying Fu Wa Fa Fa Fa, which takes our proven Ying Fu Wa to the next level, plus the revolutionary IGT ADVANTAGE CMS, we are set to write a new chapter in Asia by enabling our customers to diversify their gaming floors and drive performance,” said Charles Seo, IGT Senior Director of Commercial Strategy, Asia.

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Some key highlights for G2E Asia attendees to discover in IGT’s stand will include:

• Tiger and Dragon Link: An extension of IGT’s global hit Tiger and Dragon, this regionally attuned link powers up performance and gameplay with Cash on Reels and a lock and respin bonus with a unique betting structure that unlocks larger values and more win opportunities. Available on IGT’s PeakSlant49, PeakCurve49 and CrystalCurve cabinets, Tiger and Dragon Link also offers the chance to multiply wins up to 10x and includes the popular multi-pot collection feature for an entertaining gameplay experience.

• Ying Fu Wa Fa Fa Fa Link: This innovative link takes an IGT proven performer to the next level. Building on classic and player-favorite Ying Fu Wa gameplay, this new evolution includes a revolutionary ‘888 Feature’ and the addition of a new progressive jackpot that accumulates rewards throughout gameplay. Available in two game titles, Blessing Fortune and Overflowing Joy, with free games for variety and entertainment, Ying Fu Wa Fa Fa Fa Link is available on IGT’s PeakSlant49, PeakCurve49, PeakSlant32 and PeakDual27 cabinets.

• Rising Rockets Link: This multi-level progressive link is currently boosting player entertainment and performance on casino floors across Asia. Available in two complementary game titles, Emperor and Empress, Rising Rockets Link offers three different lock and respin bonuses, scalable bonuses, multi-denomination options and multiple jackpot opportunities during the bonus features. It is available on the PeakSlant49, PeakCurve49 and CrystalCurve cabinets.

• Money Gong Link: Packed with entertainment and a variety of gameplay experiences, the new Money Gong Link offers an innovative lock and respin bonus feature that includes three different gameplay modifiers, ‘Multiplier’, ‘Vortex Pays’ and ‘Prize Boost,’ for more chances to win. With a unique Money Gong bonus play-off for the chance to win the Money Gong jackpot, this new link is available on IGT’s PeakSlant49 and PeakCurve49 cabinets.

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In addition to IGT’s demonstration of the exciting gaming portfolio covering more than 60 individual game titles, the IGT Systems team will demonstrate the differentiating features of IGT ADVANTAGE, including exciting bonusing options for Asia and IGT’s award-winning Cardless Connect and Resort Wallet solutions. Offering a modular design that supports convenience-driving apps, IGT ADVANTAGE drives the player experience forward while helping optimise casino operations. Through IGT’s HTML-based M5 technology, operators can deliver personalised real-time promotions, bonuses and more to the player via the cabinet’s service window.