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India’s digital gaming economy continues to ride on the rapid adoption of UPI, which has become the default mode for micro and mid-value gaming transactions. Between 2023 and 2024, the total value of UPI transactions in the digital gaming segment rose 34%, reaching nearly ₹1.3 lakh crore, while transaction volumes increased 25% to 3.9 billion.
This divergence between value and volume growth suggests an increase in the average ticket size, driven by deeper user engagement, premium tournament formats, and enhanced in-app payment integration. The period also saw multiple fantasy sports and skill-based gaming platforms doubling down on UPI-based instant payment features, ensuring faster deposits and withdrawals.
What It Means
The data underscores how UPI has become the financial backbone of India’s gaming ecosystem - from casual mobile games to real-money fantasy leagues. However, this growth phase also coincided with a maturing regulatory environment. With GST reforms and the RMG Bill introduced in late 2024, the ecosystem is entering a phase of compliance-driven consolidation.
While transaction momentum may cool in the short term, gaming remains one of the most consistent UPI-linked use cases - reflecting the intersection of fintech convenience, digital consumption, and entertainment-led spending in India’s evolving digital economy.
