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Guest Column: Online poker the next big wave in digital
With poker’s popularity having touched heights in the US, the UK, China, and other European nations, the card game online has also begun to gain immense traction in India. People in India have begun to recognise poker as a skilled-based game. This is one of the major reasons why a large number of players are opting for poker online in comparison to other available options. As per a Economic Times report, the online poker industry today is estimated at $120 million and the figure is only expected to grow in the coming years. The growing number of poker portals online is also indicative of the fact that the industry in India is swiftly expanding. The country is touted to be the next big market for online poker games.
The Origin
India has a long history of popularity of card games, many influenced by the English, given the country’s colonial past. Several classic British card games such as gin and bridge amongst others was a preferred choice by the masses. One poker variant, not too different from the British game – the three-card brag, dubbed as ‘Teenpatti’ began to garner immense interest in India, almost a decade ago. The preference for the game snowballed into popularity for poker. With the advent of digitalisation around the same time, Indian based digital companies wanted to tap in on the popularity that poker had amongst the masses. As a result, many digital companies began to look at creating strong platforms and interesting formats to cater the demands of a digital-first consumer.
The Present
Statistics published by MECN (Media Entertainment Consulting Network) depict that Asia, and primarily India, takes the title of being the largest and fastest-growing online gambling market across the globe. The recognition of the card game online is supplemented by affordable smartphones and data plans, growing broadband penetration and other factors that further promote easy access to potential poker players in the country. With more and more people recognising poker as a skill-based game, many are opting for this card game and this has snowballed into even more recognition for the game.
The Revenue
The online poker industry is continually working towards creating more awareness amongst masses about the skills that the game sharpens and that it also requires a certain level of skill to begin with. It is estimated that about a million players in the country today play real money poker frequently. It expected that with more digital players entering the space, the online poker industry will receive a further boost and surpass the estimated $110 to 120 million mark of 2016. It also appears the government is recognising the volume of revenue generated by the online poker industry. This has been witnessed by the Karnataka government’s recent decision to consider creation of floating casinos.
Along with the logistics in place and the digital poker industry prepared to onboard a large number of players, the online card game is expected to grab even a larger share in the Indian online gaming industry. The digital poker industry is positive about record-breaking growth and revenue in the years to come.
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The author is the managing director and co-founder of The Spartan Poker. The views expressed here are his own and Indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to them. |
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
