The online gaming industry in India has witnessed unprecedented growth in the recent past, and it is not expected to slow down anytime soon.According to the India Gaming Report 2021 published by Lumikai and Redseer, the Indian gaming market is poised to reach a value of $7 billion by the financial year 2026 (FY26), while the market is currently valued at $2.2 billion. However, the real opportunity lies in the regional gaming communities, where there’s a colossal amount of talent and skill.
Hailing from a small village in Rajasthan, Suneeta moved to Surat, Gujarat, with her husband, Sitaram Sharma, nearly two decades ago to create better opportunities for herself and her family. A homemaker and a mother of five, she spent most of her time supporting her husband in his small business and raising their children.
It was only in 2020 that Suneeta was introduced to rummy by her husband. She began her gaming journey by playing free games on Junglee Rummy before gradually moving to cash tournaments once she gained confidence. Suneeta has only deposited a total of ₹100 into her gaming wallet and has won nearly ₹1.5 crores so far. Using her skills and unique strategies, she made her way to the Rummy Premier League and began her journey to the grand finale, defeating thousands of skilled rummy players from all over India in the process.
Making the most of her expertise in the game, Suneeta clinched victory and became the biggest rummy crorepati of all time, winning an industry-record ₹1.5 crores. While it took a while for the fact to sink in for Suneeta and her family, they have hardly been able to contain their joy ever since.
“It’s a dream come true. Winning 1.5 crore means a lot to me, my husband and our children. It allows us to improve our present and build a better future for our children,” said Suneeta.
In the past couple of years, a great explosion has been observed in the user count of online skill-gaming platforms like rummy, fantasy sports, and ludo apps, surpassing the number of subscribers of other media categories like cinema, OTT, and podcasts.
Big winnings and achievements of such players are testimony to the deep penetration and popularity of skill games in not just big cities but also in small towns. The gaming industry in India has witnessed rapid growth after initiatives like Digital India and the strengthening of the internet infrastructure. The opportunities to learn and grow have multiplied for people living in small towns and rural areas in India.
Millions of players across India are registering on online gaming platforms daily to utilize their skills and stay entertained. Suneeta’s inspiring performance and win has given a new direction to online gaming companies to enter the less-explored territories of the country. With the right approach, online gaming in small towns can be much more than simple fun or entertainment. It will also improve the digital literacy rate of the country.
