by Ajay Kumar The online gaming industry is emerging rapidly in India, as evidenced by the fact that 41 percent of its players are women, and over 66 percent of gamers are from small towns. According to Ashwini Rana, Chief of Policy at India’s largest online gaming company ‘Zupee,’ this is a sign that the popularity of online gaming is spreading across all sections of society. He emphasized that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the online gaming industry, as it could become a hub for future research that may transform human life.
‘Zupee’ was founded in 2018 by Dilsher Singh, a former student of IIT Kanpur. In a short period, the company has secured a prominent position in the Indian online gaming market. India’s online gaming sector is now the second-largest market in the world, after China. However, along with the rapid rise of this sector, some concerns have also arisen, especially in the context of gaming addiction. On this issue, Ashwini Rana said that addiction can occur to anything, whether it’s mobile phones, TV, social media, or even alcohol and tobacco. It is crucial that we set our own limits and control these habits.
There are both good and bad companies in the online gaming sector. Foreign companies that encourage people to gamble are also active in the Indian market. But the primary focus of Indian companies like ‘Zupee’ is on online games, with various safety measures and limits in place. For instance, there is a cap on the amount that can be wagered, and people under the age of 18 cannot participate in these games. Additionally, games like Ludo have limited durations, and gamers receive alerts if they play for too long.
It is important to understand the difference between online gambling and online gaming. Several cases have reached the High Court and Supreme Court on this issue, where it has been made clear that games involving intellect and skill are not considered gambling. On the other hand, games that rely solely on luck are categorized as gambling. Based on this, games like Ludo, fantasy cricket, horse racing, teen patti, and lottery are classified as gambling.
‘Zupee’ today has over 300 employees, more than half of whom are IITians. Over 100 million people play Ludo on this company’s platform. Technological advancements and innovations have contributed significantly to this rapidly growing sector, and it is expected that the sector will continue to develop on a larger scale in the future. However, it is also essential to move forward responsibly, keeping in mind the potential harms associated with it.
