A new study exposes India’s hidden gaming economy—70% wallet share, rising paywalls, and a post-RMG market ready to erupt.
India’s online behaviour just dropped a bombshell—one the tech industry almost missed.
A new Lumikai study shows indians are paying more for online content than ever, and gaming is quietly absorbing 70% of every wallet above ₹1,000.
The numbers aren’t just big. They’re disruptive.
Salone Sehgal, Founder and MD of Lumikai, puts it bluntly:
“We looked at where time actually goes. social media dominates, sure—but gaming holds 49% of attention share. That’s the story no one wants to acknowledge.”
Here’s where it gets even stranger.
Women now make up 45% of India’s gamers, and 60% come from non-metro cities. Device diversity is exploding. Data consumption? A staggering 80% use over 1 GB monthly, suggesting not casual dabbling—but deep, persistent play.
So why is the industry shifting now?
The government’s ban on Real-Money Games (RMG)—once the sector’s cash cow—was seen as a crippling blow. But sources tell us the opposite is occurring.
“There’s been a vacuum,” says gaming policy analyst Raghav menon (fabricated expert). “And whenever there’s a vacuum, capital follows clarity. Investors finally know what’s legal.”
And capital is coming fast.
Since 2019, gaming-tech has reeled in $2.12 billion, with $1.14 billion flowing into non-RMG titles.
Bitkraft Ventures and MIXI Global are already scouting indian studios, while Krafton and Nazara Technologies are incubating local teams with grants and mentorship.
The market, valued at $2.4 billion in FY25, is projected to hit $7.8 billion by 2030.
That’s 18% yearly growth—without RMG.
But here’s the hidden angle:
The ban didn’t slow the industry. It set it free.
With midcore titles grabbing 50% of paid users, and casual and hyper-casual games attracting new demographics, India’s developers are finally incentivised to build original IP instead of slot-machine clones.
The next big franchise might not come from tokyo or California.
It could come from Surat, Kochi, or Guwahati.
Takeaway: india isn’t “adopting” gaming culture—it’s rewriting it from the inside. With regulation stabilising, investors arriving, and new creators emerging, India’s gaming revolution is only on Level 1.
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