The tremendous increase in robust internet connectivity that’s sweeping across India, particularly in major cities like Delhi, has opened up a whole new world of entertainment over the last few years. Now, with the rate of adoption of internet-connected devices surging, with mobiles alone set to be in the hands of two-thirds of the population by 2023, the subcontinent is fully embracing the modern platforms of entertainment.
Among the chief sectors of entertainment that are being used by millions of relatively new users in India is that of gaming, particularly mobile gaming. Developers creating game apps for the market and those who have mobile-compatible online platforms have found a vast audience in India. Yet, despite the plethora of modern video game-like titles, it’s online card games that are trending right now.
Students and people in the student age range have notably been among the largest audience of these online card games, but the base is quite split. Two card games reign supreme right now, and while one is a very modern creation, the other is very much a traditional card game.
An eSports sensation suited to India’s ecosystem
Alongside the rise of mobile gaming in India, as it has in other more established markets, eSports has also risen to the fore. The organised space for competitive gaming offers those with the skill and determination to battle against their fellow players for the chance to win tournaments, trophies, and chunks of huge prize pools. Among the most popular eSports is the digital card game Hearthstone. The mainline eSports like Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and League of Legends demand high-speed internet and often top-class PC hardware to play.
Hearthstone, on the other hand, is perfectly suited to mobile play and doesn’t require a hefty internet connection, which is what turned Bhuj-native Tirth ‘gcttirth’ Mehta from a Dota gamer into a Hearthstone pro. He went on to claim the country’s first-ever medal in an international eSports tournament, coming third at the 2018 Asian Games. Many others have taken to the fantasy-infused online card game, with many more likely to follow Mehta into top-class competition in the years to come.
Rekindling a love for the classics
Card games have been embedded in the culture of the country since the Mughal Empire, with the well-known classics offering a way for families and friends to come together, bridge generational gaps, and compete for fun. A few of these games stand in a tier above all others in India, with one of them being Teen Patti. Played with a standard 52-card deck, it invited friendly competition, and now, Teen Patti can be played online for real money.
Being such a widely-played game, it didn’t take long for the online casinos suddenly being accessed by Indian mobile users to realise that they needed to create an online version of Teen Patti. Many players were claiming the bonuses for the gaming apps listed on sites like CasinoWings already, but since they started to offer the classic card game, the number of users has shot up, showcasing both the popularity of Teen Patti and the quality of the real-money online version.
With so many Indians getting their hands on mobile phones and playing online games, an embedded understanding of card games has allowed the fantastical Hearthstone and classic Teen Patti to earn a tremendous audience over the internet.
