MPL to Lay Off: India’s booming online gaming industry has been dealt a heavy blow. Mobile Premier League (MPL), one of the country’s largest gaming platforms, is cutting nearly 60% of its Indian workforce after the government banned paid online games earlier this month.
According to company insiders, about 300 of MPL’s 500 employees in India will lose their jobs — marking one of the first major corporate casualties of the new regulation.
The decision follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government’s move to outlaw paid gaming apps, citing concerns over financial risks and addiction among young players. Popular formats such as fantasy cricket, rummy, and poker — once a staple for millions of Indian users — were forced to shut down overnight.
Shockwaves in India’s Gaming Market
The ban has sent ripples through India’s gaming ecosystem, which analysts had projected to hit $3.6 billion by 2029. Platforms like MPL and rival Dream11 had surged in popularity by combining sports passion with real-money rewards, but now both companies face an uncertain future in their biggest market.
Industry associations continue to argue that fantasy sports and skill-based games should be distinguished from gambling. However, India’s regulatory stance has tightened, leaving limited options for operators.
MPL Confirms Downsizing
In an internal email to staff, MPL CEO Sai Srinivas admitted the decision was unavoidable. “With a heavy heart we have decided that we will be downsizing our India team significantly,” he wrote. While Srinivas assured employees of support during the transition, he acknowledged that the ban effectively wipes out the company’s local revenue stream. India previously accounted for nearly half of MPL’s earnings, generating about $100 million last year.
Future Strategy: Looking Abroad
With the domestic paid gaming market off the table, MPL is pivoting. The company plans to double down on free-to-play titles in India while expanding its paid offerings in the United States and Brazil. It also has a presence in Europe, where free-to-play games are already available.
Backed by Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India), MPL was valued at $2.3 billion in 2021. Rival Dream11, with a valuation of $8 billion, has also dropped its fantasy cricket operations following the ban. Meanwhile, some competitors like A23 are exploring legal action, though MPL and Dream11 have opted not to contest the decision in court.
A Turning Point for Indian Gaming
The MPL layoffs are more than just a corporate downsizing — they highlight a broader crisis for an industry once seen as a rising star in India’s digital economy. With investment confidence shaken and thousands of jobs potentially at risk across the sector, the government’s next moves will be closely watched.
For now, India’s gaming future seems set to shift from paid competition to free-to-play entertainment, leaving both companies and players to rethink the way they engage with the fast-evolving industry.
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