India’s recent ban on real-money gaming has begun to reverberate through the industry, with Mobile Premier League (MPL), one of the country’s largest gaming platforms, announcing layoffs affecting 60 percent of its workforce. The decision impacts nearly 300 employees across marketing, finance, engineering, and legal departments, underscoring the economic shockwaves unleashed by the government’s move.
A Ban That Reshaped the Market
Earlier this month, the Indian government imposed a sweeping ban on all paid fantasy sports and casino-style games, citing concerns about gambling addiction and financial risk among young players. The decision has left companies scrambling, particularly those whose revenue streams were heavily dependent on the domestic market.
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For MPL, India accounted for nearly half of its revenue. In an internal email to staff, co-founder and CEO Sai Srinivas admitted that the ban has left the company with no immediate path to sustain its domestic operations. “This decision has been taken with a heavy heart,” Srinivas wrote, acknowledging that future revenues from India would effectively drop to zero in the near term.
Government’s Rationale vs. Industry Pushback
While authorities argue that the prohibition is necessary to protect vulnerable players from addiction, debt, and social harm, industry leaders maintain that these games are “skill-based” and should not be classified as gambling.
Financial crime and cyber expert Professor Triveni Singh, a former IPS officer, argued that the government’s decision must be seen beyond the lens of investment or employment. “Real-money gaming had become a social concern,” he noted. “It was ensnaring large numbers of youth in debt traps and addictive behavior. The long-term benefits of regulation and intervention outweigh the short-term economic losses.”
Industry-Wide Impact and Global Strategy
MPL is not alone in facing the fallout. Rival Dream11, valued at nearly $8 billion(₹67,000 crore), has already shut down its fantasy cricket services in India. Several smaller platforms offering paid rummy, poker, and casino-style games have either suspended operations or closed altogether.
MPL’s revenue from India last year was estimated at $100 million(₹835 crore), but the company still maintains a presence in international markets such as the United States, Brazil, and Europe, where it continues to run both free-to-play and real-money formats.
Despite pledges of “every possible support” for affected employees, the layoffs mark a significant setback for a startup that once symbolized India’s booming digital gaming economy. For hundreds of families reliant on MPL salaries, the timing is particularly harsh, coinciding with broader waves of layoffs in the technology sector.