In recent years, as the domestic game market competition becomes increasingly fierce, more and more game manufacturers are turning their attention to the overseas market. As an emerging economy in South Asia, Bangladesh, with its huge population dividend, rapidly developing internet infrastructure, and gradually liberalizing game policies, is becoming a new blue ocean for real-money games to go overseas.
1. Huge market potential, strong demand for real-money games
Bangladesh has a population of over 160 million, with an average age of just 27 years old, and a high proportion of young people, creating a large base of game users. At the same time, with the rapid growth of the economy and the continuous improvement of internet penetration, the scale of Bangladesh's game market is also expanding continuously.
According to statistics, the size of Bangladesh's game market reached $250 million in 2022, and it is expected to maintain an annual growth rate of over 20% in the coming years.
In terms of game types, Bangladeshi players show a strong interest in real-money games. Due to the relatively low level of economic development locally, many players hope to earn additional income through gaming, thus real-money games have huge development potential in the Bangladeshi market.
Especially simple and easy-to-learn real-money games such as card and casual competitive games are more favored by local players.
2. Accelerated internet penetration, mobile games dominate
In recent years, the Bangladeshi government has vigorously promoted the construction of internet infrastructure, and the penetration rate of mobile internet has rapidly increased. As of 2022, there are over 100 million mobile internet users in Bangladesh, with a smartphone penetration rate of over 60%. This provides a good foundation for the development of mobile games.
In Bangladesh, mobile games dominate the game market. As smartphones are relatively inexpensive and mobile payments are becoming more widespread, more and more players choose to engage in gaming entertainment and real-money transactions through mobile phones. Therefore, for real-money game manufacturers wanting to enter the Bangladeshi market, developing games suitable for mobile devices is crucial.
3. Gradually liberalizing policy environment, regulatory system still to be perfected
Unlike some countries that impose strict restrictions on real-money games, the Bangladeshi government has a relatively open attitude towards real-money games. Currently, there are no explicit laws and regulations in Bangladesh prohibiting real-money games, which provides a relatively relaxed policy environment for the development of real-money games.
However, the regulatory system in Bangladesh is still not perfect, and there are no clear regulations regarding the operational qualifications and tax policies for real-money games. This increases the operational risks for real-money game manufacturers to some extent. Therefore, before entering the Bangladeshi market, manufacturers need to fully understand the local laws and regulations and maintain communication with local authorities to ensure compliant operations.
4. Significant cultural differences, localization is key
Bangladesh has a unique culture and religious beliefs, which differ significantly from the Chinese market in terms of game content, language, and payment methods. Therefore, real-money game manufacturers entering the Bangladeshi market need to undergo sufficient localization to adapt to the needs and habits of local players.
In terms of game content, manufacturers need to avoid elements that conflict with local culture and religion and incorporate themes and gameplay that are popular among local players. In terms of language, in addition to offering an English version, it is also worth considering launching a Bengali version to better serve local players.
In terms of payment methods, since the penetration rate of electronic payments in Bangladesh is relatively low, manufacturers need to integrate local mainstream payment channels, such as bKash and Nagad, to facilitate player recharges.
5. Opportunities and challenges coexist, promising future development
Overall, the real-money game market in Bangladesh presents both opportunities and challenges. Although the market potential is huge, manufacturers also need to face uncertainties in policy, cultural differences, and imperfect payment channels. For real-money game manufacturers wanting to share in the Bangladeshi market, it is necessary to conduct thorough market research, develop reasonable localization strategies, and establish good relationships with local partners to stand out in the fierce market competition.
With the continuous development of Bangladesh's economy and the ongoing improvement of internet infrastructure, the real-money game market is expected to welcome a broader development space. In the future, Bangladesh is poised to become an important pole in the global real-money game market.
