GAME ON

INDIA'S GAMING BOOM IS CREATING CAREERS, MILLIONAIRES, AND REGULATORY TUSSLESDRIVEN BY E-SPORTS AND MOBILE-FIRST USERS.

- MANOJ SHARMA

1 A.M. Nakul Sharma is prepping for the most anticipated BGMI match he's been waiting to play for over a year. For the 16-year-old, it's not just another game. It's his gateway to becoming India's next digital sports star.

Elsewhere, Anand Kushwaha, a daily wage labourer from Bihar's Chapra district, had almost given up on life. But thanks to affordable internet and a fascination for fantasy sports, Anand's fortunes flipped overnight. He won ₹1 crore on Dream11.

Meanwhile, Ranjitha, 24, had married Darshan Babu, an assistant engineer based in Karnataka's Chitradurga district, in 2020. Within a year, her life turned into a nightmare. Her husband was hooked to illegal online gambling, lured by local betting gangs on illegal offshore websites. What began as small wins quickly spiralled into massive losses of over ₹1 crore. Harassment from lenders and repeated police visits pushed Ranjitha to the brink; she died by suicide.

Three stories, three different emotions, but they encapsulate the full spectrum of India's gaming revolution. From Tier I metros to small towns, online gaming is no longer just a leisure activity. It has evolved into a sport, a career path, and, in some cases, a financial lifeline. Despite regulatory hurdles and the looming threat of offshore betting platforms, India's gaming ecosystem remains a positive story, backed by growing government support. The market is on track to hit $3.9 billion in revenue by the end of 2025, $9.2 billion by FY29, and $60 billion by 2034, according to fantasy gaming platform WinZO's India Gaming Report 2025.

The rise of gaming in India