Busting the taboo around real money gaming

Busting The Taboo Around Real Money Gaming

India has over 1.4 billion people which is why it comes as no surprise that there are a variety of passions displayed by the people. One of the industries which has been on a rise in India since quite a while and has evolved tremendously is the world of gaming. However, one part of the gaming world remains highly controversial till this day, i.e., real money gaming (RMG). The gaming aspect has become very famous with millions of people playing such games daily but as soon as money comes into play Indians start seeing it as a taboo, calling it a vice and labeling it as gambling.

Why Is Real Money Gaming Considered A Taboo?

India has always had a tradition of playing a variety of card games like teen-patti and rummy and the game of poker has become quite famous amongst the younger generations of card players. While playing cards was considered to be recreational and fun, the moment it starts involving money, especially if the game is high-stakes or in a tournament format, people automatically react to it as if it is gambling. Indians have historically considered ‘gambling’ as something shady and illegal and connect it to something that ruins families, associating money-based games with losses, addiction, deceit, and other such negative thoughts.

While something like roulette, a game which is completely luck based and does not involve any strategies can be labelled as outright gambling, something people may want to avoid, the same cannot be said for several other real money games. However, RMG is generally judged to be gambling as many Indians fail to understand the critical difference between games of skill and games of chance. Companies like OneVerse, which offer games like poker, rummy, fantasy sports, etc. are offering users the chance to make money on games of skill where they will have to make strategies and win rather than just relying on dumb luck.

Why Games Like Poker Should Not Be Taboo

Let’s take poker for example. It is often misunderstood as a game of luck, especially in India. However, it is far from it and in reality, is a game which requires not just skill but also patience and strategic thinking. It is true that luck does influence certain outcomes in poker but in the long run it is nearly impossible to win at the game with just luck. Poker also requires a deep understanding of human behaviour and how different people would react in different situations, which is why long-term success in poker is entirely dependent on a player’s ability.

At its core, poker is about decision-making under uncertainty. Every move, whether it be folding, calling, or raising is a new concept that the best poker players spend years mastering. Although the game is so inclined towards skill, many people in India consider the game of poker taboo and consider it to be just gambling. It is such judgement through the years that has created a bad perception for poker and why many Indians choose to stay away from it. This kind of judgement needs to be avoided so that games like poker, which are actually games of skill, are not looked down upon by people.

Is Real Money Gaming Legal In India?

Platforms which offer real money gaming on their sites are indeed legal in India. This is because the Indian government has recognised these type of games as a game of skill rather than a game of chance, making such games legal in India. While outright gambling is illegal in India, the same does not hold true for RMG. The fact that even the Indian government recognises RMG to be separate to gambling should be proof enough for the people that real money gaming is too harshly judged in India and that the taboo needs to be broken.

Is Real Money Gaming Safe?

One of the things people are worried about when it comes to real money gaming is whether it is safe and if you would get your winnings even if you do end up winning. However, there is nothing to be worried about in this case as most of the leading RMG platforms are registered companies with tax obligations, privacy norms, and customer support teams. They aren’t shady websites that will take your money and run away but have been made so that players can enjoy playing their favourite games either casually or professionally.

There are various withdrawal verification protocols in play that ensure fair play on online gaming websites. These companies need to procure Random Number Generator (RNG) certification for games like poker and rummy that ensure fair play amongst users online. These certificates make sure that even online games cannot be rigged so that the users do not feel slighted in case they end up losing money on these websites. There are also age restrictions like only players above the age of 18 can play on these websites to make real money gaming away from impressionable kids who are not of legal age.

Conclusion

Real money gaming has become hugely popular in recent times as more and more people have realised that it is not taboo but a fun way for people to get some entertainment. While there is still quite a way to go before India fully accepts real money gaming and stop feeling iffy when it is discussed, the modern generation has helped the country take big strides towards bursting the taboo around real money gaming. India has grown in many ways but our conversations about real money gaming remain stuck in the past.

It is high time that we understand and treat real money gaming as a form of digital recreation rather than labeling those who indulge in it as gamblers. One of the biggest myths about RMG players is that they’re desperate or addicted. While it is possible to get addicted and something like this needs to be addressed seriously, most players either play to have fun or practice becoming professional players so that they can create a livelihood for themselves while doing something that they enjoy.