[September 1, 2025 | Earthtechy Gaming News Desk]
India’s gaming scene just hit a wall, and if you’ve been following the rise of fantasy cricket and real-money card games, you’ll know why this story is a big deal. The government’s decision to outlaw paid online games has forced Mobile Premier League (MPL) — one of India’s biggest gaming unicorns — to announce a massive round of layoffs.
We’re talking about 60% of its India workforce, nearly 300 employees, suddenly finding themselves without jobs. For a company that became a household name with fantasy cricket and casual mobile titles, this is nothing short of a turning point. And here’s the kicker: MPL says this move means zero revenue from India in the near future.
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Why Did This Happen?
Earlier this month, the Indian government rolled out a nationwide ban on real-money online games, including fantasy sports, poker, and rummy. The official reason? Protecting players — especially the youth — from potential financial risks and addictive behaviors.
On paper, it sounds like a safety-first move. But here’s the reality: the ban wipes out a segment of the gaming industry that was projected to touch $3.6 billion by 2029. Imagine that growth curve being cut overnight. That’s what MPL and its rivals are staring at right now.
If you’ve ever played fantasy cricket or seen friends chase leaderboard wins for real cash, you already know how big this culture had become in India. With this ban, all of that shuts down instantly.
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MPL’s Toughest Call Yet
In an internal email to employees, MPL co-founder and CEO Sai Srinivas didn’t sugarcoat the situation. “With a heavy heart we have decided that we will be downsizing our India team significantly,” he wrote. He went on to confirm that India contributed nearly 50% of MPL’s revenues, and with the ban in place, that revenue stream has essentially disappeared.
Think about that for a second — half the company’s earnings, gone overnight. No wonder the layoffs had to cut across almost every division: marketing, finance, operations, engineering, and legal. From what insiders are saying, the job cuts affect around 300 of its 500 staff in India.
And let’s not forget, MPL isn’t some small-time startup. Backed by Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India), the company was valued at $2.3 billion in 2021, making it one of the biggest names in the country’s gaming ecosystem.
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Industry Shockwaves: Not Just MPL
Here’s where things get even more serious. MPL isn’t alone in facing the heat. Rival Dream11, which holds an $8 billion valuation, has already discontinued its fantasy cricket offerings. Other apps offering poker and rummy have also gone dark.
A23, another major player, has chosen a different path — they’re legally challenging the government’s decision. But MPL and Dream11? They’ve decided not to pursue legal battles, at least for now. That silence speaks volumes.
For investors — think Tiger Global and Peak XV — this comes as a shock. They had bet big on India’s online gaming boom. Now, they’re watching an industry they helped scale collapse almost overnight.
MPL’s Global Game Plan
So, where does MPL go from here? If you’re thinking this ban spells the end of the company, not quite. MPL is already shifting gears, leaning heavily on its free-to-play model in Europe and doubling down on its paid gaming operations in the United States and Brazil.
Why those markets? Simple. Both have a regulatory environment that’s much clearer than India’s, allowing companies like MPL to operate without sudden overnight bans. And let’s be honest — fantasy sports in the US, especially around the NFL and NBA, is a goldmine. MPL knows this, and that’s exactly where its next growth chapter might unfold.
This global pivot is a survival strategy. By diversifying into markets that aren’t shutting doors, MPL is buying time to keep its business relevant. For Indian gamers though, the silence on whether free-to-play titles will expand locally leaves us in a gray zone.
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The Ripple Effect on India’s Gaming Industry
Here’s the thing: MPL’s layoffs are not just about one company. This is about the entire ecosystem of online gaming in India. Thousands of jobs across startups, marketing agencies, tech partners, and support companies were linked to real-money gaming platforms. With the ban, those opportunities vanish in an instant.
Dream11 pulling back is massive — remember, this is a company valued at $8 billion. And when giants take a step back, it sends a signal that the industry, as we know it, is collapsing. Smaller startups? They barely stand a chance.
What about players? For millions of Indians who turned to fantasy cricket or rummy not just for entertainment but also for side earnings, the shutdown is a hard stop. It also takes away one of the fastest-growing forms of digital engagement we’ve seen in the past decade.
What Experts Are Saying
Industry watchers are divided. Some believe the government’s ban was inevitable — citing rising addiction among teenagers and mounting cases of financial distress linked to gaming. Others argue that instead of a blanket ban, stricter regulations and age-verification systems could have been the middle ground.
If you ask me, the truth probably lies somewhere in between. Yes, there were risks, but an outright ban feels like throwing away a multi-billion-dollar industry that had the potential to create thousands of jobs and establish India as a serious player in global gaming.
What This Means for You
If you’re a gamer, this ban means you’ll no longer find fantasy cricket or poker apps offering cash prizes in India. Your options shrink down to free-to-play games, and while those can be fun, they don’t carry the same thrill.
If you’re a developer or part of the gaming startup ecosystem, the message is loud and clear: unless regulations change, India is no longer a safe bet for building real-money gaming businesses.
And if you’re an investor? Well, you’ve probably already shifted your gaze to markets where rules are predictable, like the US, Europe, or Latin America.
Final Thoughts
The MPL layoffs are a reality check for India’s booming gaming industry. What was once a promising market with projections of $3.6 billion by 2029 has been cut down overnight by regulatory decisions. For MPL, the road ahead lies outside India, in markets that welcome gaming innovation rather than block it.
But for Indian players and professionals, this ban feels like more than just the end of fantasy cricket — it’s the end of a golden run. Unless there’s a change in policy or a middle path that allows safe, regulated gaming, we may be witnessing the slow death of an industry that once had the potential to be world-class.
