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MPL to Lay Off 60% of India Team Amid RMG Ban

• ByStartupStory     |    September 1, 2025

Mobile Premier League (MPL), India’s leading gaming unicorn, is preparing to let go of approximately 60% of its India workforce in response to the government’s recent ban on online real money games (RMG), multiple sources confirm. The announcement was communicated to employees by co-founder Sai Srinivas Kiran via an internal email, as reported by Reuters, with the company pledging support for those affected during the transition.

The move marks a dramatic shift for MPL, which has been a cornerstone of India’s digital gaming sector. “India accounted for 50% of M-League’s revenues and this change would mean that we would no longer be making any revenue from India in the near future,” Srinivas wrote. With MPL’s India team estimated to be between 500 and 600 employees, the layoffs are expected to impact hundreds.

The decision comes in the wake of the passing of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, signed into law by President Droupadi Murmu, which has resulted in an immediate and total ban of RMG offerings nationwide. As a result, MPL has halted all paid games in India and will focus its efforts on international markets, where its Singapore-based entity M-League saw revenues climb to INR 1,099 crore in FY24—a 22% increase year-on-year.

Founded in 2018 by Sai Srinivas Kiran and Shubh Malhotra, MPL has raised over $375 million from investors such as Peak XV Partners, peercheque, and MDI Ventures. The platform, previously a major hub for paid and free-to-play games ranging from fantasy sports and puzzles to casual and board games, now faces a fundamental reset in its business model.

MPL is not the only casualty other leading RMG platforms including Dream11, Gameskraft, A23, Games 24×7, and Junglee Rummy have all ceased their paid gaming segments in response to the ban. Notably, Head Digital Works, parent of A23, has challenged the ban in the Karnataka High Court, while competitors like Dream11 and WinZO have shifted their focus to other areas for business continuity.

Dream Sports, parent company of Dream11, has stated it will avoid layoffs, rallying its workforce to build out new products in sports streaming and artificial intelligence, as well as launching Dream Money in investment tech. WinZO has responded by introducing ZO TV, a short video feature, and is also venturing into US markets. Meanwhile, other platforms like Zupee and Gameskraft are turning towards free-to-play models.

The government’s sweeping changes mark the start of a major transformation for the online gaming sector, with companies now in search of alternatives to paid gaming and new ways to engage their audiences. For MPL and its peers, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity—to innovate, pivot, and redefine the future of gaming in India.

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