Revealing Casino Data: Which States Gamble Online the Most

With its massive population, growing economy, and increasing internet penetration, India stands out as one of the most promising and exciting markets for casino operators in the whole world

But which states are leading the charge in this burgeoning industry? A recently published extensive research by the SevenJackpots Casino Website based on proprietary data analysis sheds light on the states that are playing online casinos the most and the factors influencing their behaviour.

Maharashtra Leads by a Sizable Margin Thanks to Mumbai and Pune

The SevenJackpots data analysis reveals that Maharashtra emerges as the undisputed leader when it comes to online casino player visits and registrations. Accounting for an impressive 17.4% national user share, Maharashtra is well ahead of the competition.

This is primarily due to the presence of two major metro areas, Mumbai and Pune, which boast a significant population and high disposable income, and their residents apparently have been increasingly embracing online gambling as a form of entertainment and leisure.

With their flourishing tech industries, favourable business climate, and extensive media and internet exposure, these two metros contribute significantly to the state’s dominant position on the Indian online casino scene.

Telangana, West Bengal and Karnataka Follow the Leader

In the race for online gambling dominance, Telangana (9.9% share of Indian users), West Bengal (9.3%), and Karnataka (9.3%) form the runner-up group after the leader Maharashtra.

Each of these states has a sizable population that is mostly above poverty levels, contributing to their significant presence in the online casino market.

Telangana stands out as low on poverty (11.29%), high on income per capita, and enjoys excellent internet penetration, which further drives its strong online gambling traction. Similarly, Karnataka’s relatively better economic conditions and social factors make it an attractive market for online casino operators.

West Bengal has a poverty line of 19.98%, slightly lower than that of Karnataka – 20.91%, but registers almost half of the Southern state’s GDP per Capita ($5,983 for West Bagal vs $11,524 for Karnataka). At the same time, West Bengal compensates with a roughly 50% higher population (99.6 million vs 67.5 million), and this is how the state manages to get the same casino user share of 9.3% as Karnataka.

The next group of three states with almost identical casino user shares are Uttar Pradesh (8.2%), Tamil Nadu (8.1%), and NCT Delhi (8.1%). UP has the largest population, but high poverty line and low income, which is exactly the opposite of the National Capital Territory. Telangana is somewhat in the middle between these two.

Goa provides an interesting case – while the small coastal state is a popular destination for physical gambling on licensed onshore and offshore casinos and boasts one of the highest GDP per capita ratios in the country, it doesn’t make a significant impact on the online casino scene due to its miniscule population size.

The Role of Disposable Income and GDP

A crucial factor determining online gambling propensity is disposable income, the SevenJackpots Casino research has shown. Even though India has a large middle class, the wide disparity in income levels translates to varying spending habits: while some have ample discretionary income to spend on entertainment, others struggle to meet basic needs.

Moreover, the urbanization trend in India and the increasing concentration of metro-like areas with higher economic development indicators leads to a corresponding rise in online gambling activity. Major urban centers like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad exert considerable influence on the market, representing almost two-thirds of all active online casino customers, as the researchers point out.

India’s online casino landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by factors like urbanization, disposable income, and internet penetration. While states like Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal, and Karnataka lead the charge, the online gambling market’s growth potential is immense across the entire country. As economic conditions improve and technology continues to advance, online casino operators can expect Indian players to be a key driver of their business in the coming years.