Coronavirus lockdown leads to surge in online rummy in Andhra Pradesh

With India under strict lockdown, several online rummy websites have reported an explosion in the numbers of new players registering.

Rummy sites that allow members to win real cash are offering welcome offers to target casual players who have no other place to play with social and work life almost at a halt in the country.

One online gamer told Times of India: “I used to play cards with my friends and colleagues in the evening before the lockdown. Due to the prevailing coronavirus situation, staying indoors leaves me with plenty of idle time. Hence, I have no other option except indulge in online gaming.”

It has been pointed out that online gaming is one of the very few industries to benefit from a nationwide shutdown. Another regular online rummy player described how ‘the online gaming industry has seen a massive surge in the number of new players.”

Police in the cities of Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh have acknowledged that with illegal gambling dens closed, people are turning to online rummy.

A senior police offer stated that as rummy does not fall under the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act 1974, no action is being taken. In effect, as rummy is treated as a game of skill, online rummy for cash is legal.

Online rummy is not the only gaming platform witnessing growth in its user traffic with online poker and esport names like Zupee, Pokerbaazi.com, PokerDangal, Games2Win and WinZo also also reporting coronavirus-driven sign-ups and play.