Online casinos have been steadily gaining popularity in India for the past decade, but 2020 marked an important turning point for digital gambling in the country. With rising internet penetration, affordable smartphones, faster data speeds, and an expanding young audience, India became one of the world’s fastest-growing online gaming markets around 2020.
But what exactly changed? What trends shaped the online casino experience in India during that year? And how did 2020 pave the way for the iGaming boom we see today?
This in-depth guide explores all the major developments, expectations, and opportunities that emerged in India’s online gambling landscape in 2020.
Major Boost in Mobile Gaming and Digital Adoption
When you look at India’s gaming audience in 2020, one trend stands out clearly:
India became a mobile-first iGaming market.
Why mobile gaming surged:
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Affordable smartphones under ₹10,000
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Cheap data plans, especially after Jio revolution
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Improved 4G penetration
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More game developers optimizing for mobile
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Convenience of anytime-anywhere play
What players expected:
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Mobile-optimized casino websites
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Dedicated Android apps
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Fast-loading games
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Touch-friendly interfaces
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Multi-language support
Slots, teen patti, rummy, poker, and live casino games became extremely popular among mobile users.
Rise of Live Casino Games in India
2020 saw an explosion in live dealer casino games — a format that streams real dealers from studios in real time.
Why live casinos became a hit:
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More trust — real humans, not machines
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Higher excitement and interaction
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Indian-friendly games like Andar Bahar & Teen Patti
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Real-time engagement with chat features
Popular live casino games in India (2020):
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Live Baccarat
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Live Teen Patti
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Live Andar Bahar
Players loved the “real casino vibe,” making live games the biggest online casino trend of the year.
Increased Payment Flexibility and Faster Withdrawals
One of the biggest frustrations before 2020 was slow casino withdrawals and limited payment options.
That changed dramatically.
New payment methods Indian casinos adopted:
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UPI
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Paytm
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Google Pay
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PhonePe
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NetBanking
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Skrill
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Neteller
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Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT)
Why this mattered:
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Instant deposits
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Faster withdrawals
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No credit card dependency
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Higher trust in platforms
UPI became the dominant method for Indian players due to its speed and simplicity.
Bonuses Became Bigger and More Attractive
2020 also brought a new wave of generous casino bonuses as platforms competed for Indian players.
Popular bonuses in 2020:
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Welcome bonuses (100%–200%)
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Free spins for slot lovers
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Live casino bonuses
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No-deposit bonuses
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Cashback offers
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VIP & Loyalty rewards
Casinos targeted cricket fans as well with sports combo bonuses, especially during IPL seasons.
More Focus on Indian Casino Games
For a long time, most online casino platforms catered mainly to Western audiences. But by 2020, operators fully recognized the massive potential of the Indian gaming market.
Casinos added more Indian-themed games:
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Teen Patti
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Andar Bahar
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Jhandi Munda
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Paplu
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Rummy
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Bollywood-styled slot machines
Indian players expected — and received — localized gaming experiences.
Regulatory Clarity Began to Improve
Online casino legality in India has always been a grey area, but 2020 brought important developments:
2020 regulatory highlights:
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The Supreme Court reaffirmed skill games as legal
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Several states discussed online gambling frameworks
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Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh tightened rules (mostly on rummy/poker)
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More conversations about licensing began at the central level
While India still doesn’t have a uniform online casino law, 2020 marked the year when regulation moved into serious discussion.
Growth of Responsible Gambling Tools
With the rise of online gaming came concerns about addiction and overspending.
In 2020, many top casino brands started offering:
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Deposit limits
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Time-out features
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Session reminders
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Self-exclusion options
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Reality checks
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Verified age controls
This helped build trust and created safer gaming environments.
Superior Game Quality and Technology Upgrades
Technology saw a massive jump across iGaming platforms:
Improvements that players noticed:
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HD live streaming
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Enhanced slot graphics
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Faster loading speeds
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AI-based personalization
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Better animations and sound
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More stable servers
Game providers like Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play, and Ezugi expanded heavily into India.
Cryptocurrency Gambling Started Expanding
Although still niche, cryptocurrency gambling gained momentum.
Why Indian players explored crypto casinos:
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Faster withdrawals
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Full privacy
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No bank restrictions
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Global casino access
Many platforms began accepting:
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Bitcoin
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Ethereum
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Litecoin
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Dogecoin
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Tether (USDT)
Crypto casinos didn’t dominate in 2020, but they planted the seeds for future growth.
Explosion of Online Poker and Rummy Platforms
2020 was a major growth year for real-money skill-based gaming.
Big winners in 2020:
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PokerBaazi
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Adda52
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Spartan Poker
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MPL
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RummyCircle
Lockdowns and work-from-home culture led to more interest in online skill-based gaming.
Increased Use of AI for Personalization
Casinos started using AI algorithms to:
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Suggest games
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Send personalized offers
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Track user preferences
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Improve security
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Detect risky behavior
Players experienced much more personalized gaming experiences.
Customer Support Became Faster and More Accessible
Indian players expect fast help, and casinos in 2020 focused heavily on customer service improvements.
Upgrades included:
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24/7 live chat
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WhatsApp support
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Multilingual agents
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Faster ticket management
Big Rise in eSports and Betting Integration
With traditional sports paused during the pandemic, eSports betting grew rapidly.
Indian casinos integrated:
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Dota 2
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CS:GO
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Free Fire
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PUBG Mobile
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FIFA
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League of Legends
This gave players new entertainment options beyond classic casino gaming.
Growing Popularity of Megaways and High-Feature Slots
Megaways slots became India’s favorite slot type in 2020.
Why?
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Thousands of paylines
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Massive win potential
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Exciting features
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Fast gameplay
Players expected more high-volatility, high-engagement slots.
The Beginning of India’s Online Casino Boom
2020 was the year that “set the stage” for today’s booming Indian online casino market.
What 2020 ultimately brought:
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Bigger audiences
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Better technology
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Safer payments
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More Indian games
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Legal discussions
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Higher trust levels
Online casinos evolved from a niche hobby into a mainstream digital entertainment category.
🎯 Conclusion: What 2020 Meant for Online Casinos in India
2020 was a milestone year for India’s online casino industry.
It introduced:
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mobile-first gaming
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live dealer dominance
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faster payments
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better bonuses
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Indian-themed games
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stricter safety features
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growing regulation
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crypto adoption
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eSports integration
All these developments helped shape the vibrant online casino ecosystem India enjoys today.
