Gaming for Growth: India’s Sports and Gaming Market Potential
The gaming industry is one of the fastest growing, most dynamic, yet least understood sectors in the Indian economy. Depending on what game, and in which State, different aspects of the industry, such as betting on sports, are regulated, banned, legal, flourishing, volatile, or prone to drastic policy changes.
In the past decade, however, legislative and judicial decisions present the opportunity to redefine gaming governance. There is now real potential to introduce clear and intuitive central regulation, as recommended by India’s Law Commission in 2018, that will increase investment, create jobs, generate Government revenue, reduce corruption, and support responsible playing.
UK India Business Council, through this report, seeks to provide an understanding of the Indian gaming market and the opportunities for the country to benefit from the sector’s growth. After contextualising the market, and highlighting discrepancies between States in India, we reveal how the complex web of regulation currently restrains the opportunity to not only attract FDI and create jobs and growth, but also to stifle corruption, enhance the integrity of sport, and increase the tax revenue across India.
As such, we hope this report and its findings contribute towards India’s economic growth, proud sporting accomplishments, and the UK and India’s ever closer relationship.
