Fantasy Gaming: India's latest obsession is a billion dollar potential – Gaurav Sarin, Business Head, Cricplay
Technology and cricket are a deadly combination in a country like ours that boasts of a young population, and where cricket is regarded as a religion. The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 recently became one of the most-watched sporting events in the world, with 315 million viewers tuning in from across the country. This overwhelming obsession for the game, coupled with rapidly increasing smartphone and 4G penetrations, has fueled the unprecedented rise of the online fantasy gaming industry.
India’s fantasy sports brands enjoy a collective loyal base of 50 million gamers in a short span of time. Thanks to this sky-rocketing number of patrons, online
gaming revenues have also increased from Rs 2,030 crore in FY14 to Rs 4,380 crore in FY18, and the market is projected to touch $5 billion in the next two years. One of the key reasons behind the incredible success story of fantasy sports in the country is the stickiness of its gaming formats.
As per a recent KPMG-IFSG report
“The other lesser-known reason behind the overnight success of fantasy gaming is that millenials find it convenient to take a couple of minutes off their hectic schedules to play these exciting online games to unwind”
titled ‘The Evolving Landscape of Sports Gaming in India’, 74 per cent of respondents play fantasy sports one to three times a week. This is reflected in Cricplay’s gaming statistics as well, with the average time spent per user per month standing at 134 minutes. These promising numbers are evidence that fantasy gaming is set to be the next big leap in the online gaming industry, with live cricket set to dominate the space, just like the outdoor game.
Fantasy cricket allows players to create a virtual cricket team with 11 players, and earn points if their players perform well in field matches. Success in this format calls for a deep understanding of player dynamics and game strategy, with newer platforms like Cricplay pivoting from the traditional notions of prize-based gaming to bringing the love and joy of playing to every Indian. Its ‘Star Contest’ format allows virtually any Indian to go up against cricketing legends like Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Stephen Fleming and others has struck a chord with sports aficionados across the country, with more than 5 million users playing on Cricplay within the past year, making it the highest rated Indian Fantasy Gaming app on Google Play.
The other lesser-known reason behind the overnight success of fantasy gaming is that millenials find it convenient to take a couple of minutes off their hectic schedules to play these exciting online games to unwind. As more startups enter the space, they will capitalise on this lucrative consumer segment by experimenting with more immersive and action-packed gaming experiences, cementing the future of India’s fantasy sports market. ■