Gurugram/New Delhi, November 05th 2024. India’s Real Money Gaming (RMG) sector is experiencing rapid growth, with Rummy emerging as a key driving force. A new study, “Cashing In: Inside India’s Rummy Gaming Market,” conducted by CyberMedia Research (CMR) and Unomer, reveals the factors contributing to this surge. As per the study findings, (56%) of gamers surveyed play real money games, with real-money gamers earning an average of seven times their initial investments.
According to Prabhu Ram, VP-Industry Research Group (IRG), CyberMedia Research (CMR), “Real Money Gaming has seen success owing to the accessibility of mobile gaming, which has lower entry barriers compared to hardware-intensive platforms like PCs and consoles. This accessibility has widened the market, attracting both casual and serious gamers. Among real money games, Rummy remains the most popular, supported by low data costs, a well-established digital payments infrastructure, and familiarity with the game.”
Key Study Highlights:
- Rummy’s Enduring Appeal: Rummy’s cultural familiarity, strategic gameplay, and social appeal have made it the most popular real-money game in India. Rummy’s enduring appeal in both traditional and digital formats has made Rummy-based platforms leaders in the sector.
- Player Engagement: (56%) of gamers surveyed play real-money games, and (80%) of real-money gamers spend an average of 12 hours per week gaming on their smartphones. Real-money rewards (56%) are a growing trend in gaming, engaging players.
- Social Gaming: (45%) of real-money gamers enjoy playing with friends, highlighting the social aspect of Rummy. The game’s social elements, such as the ability to play with friends and family, have contributed to its popularity.
- Gamer Motivations: Winning cash and prizes (76%), entertainment (69%), and relaxation (59%) are the primary motivations for real-money gaming. The opportunity to win cash prizes, coupled with the entertainment and competitive aspects of Rummy, has attracted a large number of players.
- Market Landscape:
- Rummy Circle (16%), A23 Rummy (16%), and Rummy Culture (11%) are the top-preferred rummy apps.
- Among all other major players in the Real Money Gaming space, GamesKraft leads the pack, recording the highest revenue and Profit After Tax (PAT) among competitors in 2023.
“Rummy has been a key driver in the RMG (Real Money Gaming) sector. Platforms like Rummy Circle, Rummy Culture, Junglee Rummy, and A23 have established strong brands and large user bases by leveraging innovative brand building and effective performance marketing strategies. The market continues to expand, with new players emerging who have the potential to disrupt the space. Among leaders, Gamekraft-RummyCulture stands out, having seemingly mastered both – scale and profitability. The industry is now shifting focus from mere user acquisition to fostering loyalty, particularly among high-frequency, high-spending segments”, Added Vinay Bapna, Co-founder and CEO of Unomer.
About the Study
The study “Cashing In: Inside India’s Rummy Gaming Market” covered 1044 real money gamers, cutting across seven cities of India, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Pune, covering the age groups of 18 to 35 years.
For results based on a randomly chosen sample of this size, there is 95% confidence that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 3% of what they would be if the entire population had been surveyed.
