You may or may not buy the popular belief that engaging in gambling during the festive season invokes the favour of the goddess of wealth, but you certainly cannot overlook the fact that card games are an integral part of Diwali for many, including those who usually stay away from any sort of gambling.
Now, as with most things going the digital way, old-school card games such as poker, rummy and teen patti are also reinventing themselves in their online avatars to click with today’s festive revellers and transform traditional house parties.
“The festive season is a crucial time for us, and we’re pulling out all the stops to ensure we offer something fresh and exciting for players,” says Paul Michael, CEO of metaverse and gaming tech company OneVerse that acquired online poker platforms Calling Station, Spartan Poker and PokerSaint, among others, earlier this year as part of an acquisition spree in the gaming space.
“We’ve introduced new game formats, tournaments with enhanced prize pools, and innovative features like real-time leaderboards, which heighten the competitive thrill. Additionally, we’ve partnered with major brands for exclusive festive rewards and promotions. Our goal is to merge traditional festivities with modern gaming experiences, offering players something that feels both culturally relevant and immersive, while tapping into the festive spirit,” adds Michael.
OneVerse anticipates a significant uptick in activity this festive season, with projected growth in the range of 20-30% compared to last year. “Last year, we saw a surge in online gaming due to the pandemic’s aftereffects, with users embracing digital platforms for entertainment. This year, however, we’re seeing a shift towards more skill-based games such as poker and rummy, with an increased focus on long-term engagement rather than one-off games. Another emerging trend is the rise of mobile-first experiences, with users demanding faster, more seamless gaming options, which we expect will continue fuelling growth in the sector,” explains Michael.
Poker has become a key player in India’s online gaming sector, and the numbers speak for themselves. Of the 440 million gamers in India, 110 million are paid gamers, with around 100 million involved in real-money gaming (RMG). Real-money gaming today comprises 70% of online gaming revenue. While just about 5% of the RMG audience plays poker actively, the online poker industry generates 10% to 15% of overall RMG revenue. This demonstrates the aspirational nature of poker among the RMG audience.
“While poker started in business schools, engineering colleges, entrepreneurs and elite social circles, it is no longer just a niche game played in exclusive settings. Its appeal is expanding to a much broader audience, reflecting a growing acceptance among the general public. This reflects not only the game’s growing popularity but also underlines its arrival as a serious alternative to digital entertainment,” says Joydeep Mukherjee, chief marketing officer of Deltatech Gaming that runs top-of-the-line gaming apps like Adda52 and Addagames.
Naturally, companies are also going the extra mile to promote these online games. Adda52 recently partnered with celebrities from TV, OTT and the film industry, such as Maniesh Paul, Anupriya Goenka and Ronit Roy, to elevate poker as a popular lifestyle game in the country.Mukherjee says, “These partnerships help us leverage their broad appeal and credibility to connect with our existing and potential players and grow poker’s footprint in the country.”
Adda52 has previously collaborated with various celebrities, including Karishma Tanna, Arjun Bijlani, Krystle D’Souza, Aakash Chopra, Nabha Natesh and Neha Pendse. With the celebrities’ young and diverse follower base, the brand aims to resonate with their audience and position poker as a thrilling lifestyle and mind sport.Apart from poker, online card games such as rummy and teen patti are also seeing a surge in popularity in recent times. Yono Games, a skill-based gaming platform that allows you to make money while you play, is also gearing up in the run-up to Diwali. “This year, we are supporting skilled-based games such as teen patti, rummy, and more,” says Stan Kim, board director, Yono Games.
Among the new and advanced features that the company is presenting for Diwali this year are a ‘tournament mode’ that allow players to compete against each other in structured events; ‘social gaming’ that allows users to play with their friends or make new ones; and a smoother network that works fast anywhere, whether it is 2G, 3G or Wi-Fi. “In fact, you can experience all the features completely free of cost,” says Kim.
At Yono Games, there were about half a million downloads during Diwali last year. “For this year, we are expecting about 150-200% higher downloads than last year since there are more game types and fun features,” Kim adds.Now, if you’re into ‘rewarding’ games but not exactly into cards, then MovieMe, a box-office prediction game that allows users to predict the box office earnings of upcoming movies, could be your thing. “Users can enter their predictions for various movie releases, and those who come closest to the actual box-office figures stand a chance to win real money prizes. Users can win up to Rs 1 crore by participating in the contest. The platform is designed to engage both casual moviegoers and film enthusiasts who enjoy analysing box-office trends,” explains Bhavesh Joshi, founder and CEO of MovieMe, a first-of-its-kind ‘entertech’ platform that is reshaping the business of cinematic entertainment in India through data, technology and gamification.
The game is available 24/7 on the app and users can participate in three different types of contests—Opening Day (for opening day earnings), Weekend Rush (for first weekend earnings), and Lifetime (for earnings across the first four weeks the movie is in cinemas). “During festive seasons like Diwali, with a lot of new releases slated for release during that period, we expect increased user engagement with the game, leading to even larger prize pools,” adds Joshi.