Major I-Gaming Platform Shares Internal Data
One of the major internationally licensed online casino platforms that is open to the Indian real money gaming market – Casino Days, has recently published a research paper analysing their internal data on user traffic from the region of South Asia broken down by devices used to gamble online.
The shared proprietary data exposes mobile phones by Chinese manufacturers Xiaomi and Vivo as the most preferred choices among online casino players in India and the South Asian region.
The Xiaomi brand holds the top position with 21.90% of the user base, closely followed by Vivo at 20.79%. South Korean giant Samsung secures the third spot with 18.10% of players opting for their devices.
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The popularity of Xiaomi and Vivo smartphones is particularly intriguing when compared to their global rankings derived from publicly available worldwide vendor shipments data, which place Samsung as the most popular brand, followed by Apple and then Xiaomi.
In South Asia, however, as per the Casino Days shared data, Apple lags behind with a modest share of 2.23% of users. This finding highlights the unique preferences of players in the region, overwhelmingly favouring Android-run devices over phones with iOS.
Indeed, Android’s share on the local market exceeds 9 out of every ten users, while on the whole Asian continent Android holds 78.6% of the market, dropping to 70.79% for the whole world (according to June 2023 data).
Among the major factors driving the success of the Android OS (Operating System) in the region, the Casino Days analysis suggests, is its open-source status which allows for greater accessibility of apps and software, making it a preferred choice for many users.
Additionally, the affordability of many Android devices, especially when manufactured locally in countries like India, China, South Korea, and Vietnam, contributes to their widespread adoption even in rural areas of South Asia.
Desktops Are Still in the Picture
According to the analysed internal casino user data, an overwhelming 96.60% of players in South Asia use their mobile phones to play online casino games, while only 2.90% of players still use computers, and a mere 0.50% opt for tablets.
The authors of the study point out that desktops used to be the main access points during the first years of internet gambling. The observed shift from stationary computers to portable devices comes as no surprise, the researchers highlight, considering the widespread availability of smartphones and affordable internet connections.
The continued presence of desktops in the real money gaming landscape is likely due to various factors, such as some players preferring the larger screens and enhanced performance that desktops offer, especially for more demanding casino games or live dealer experiences.
Additionally, certain segments of the player base who like to engage in extended gaming sessions might find it more comfortable to play on a computer, than a much smaller device.
What is the Significance of the Insights by Casino Days?
While online casino industry statistics are generally hard to come across, the internal data shared by Casino Days provides valuable insights into the device preferences of real money gamers in South Asia, including India.
The overwhelming dominance of mobile devices, with Xiaomi and Vivo emerging as the most popular brands, underscores the region’s growing reliance on smartphones for gaming and entertainment, and for daily life activities as a whole.
As technology continues to evolve and more affordable powerful devices enter the market, the online gaming industry can expect further transformations in player behaviour and preferences.
Understanding these trends is crucial for online casino platforms and game developers to deliver exceptional gaming experiences optimised for the correct set of popular devices and thus to cater in a better way to the diverse needs of players in the region.
