{"id":777031040,"date":"2025-09-01T12:12:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T15:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/?p=777031040"},"modified":"2026-04-21T19:36:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T22:36:17","slug":"mpl-slashes-workforce-amid-india-gaming-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/mpl-slashes-workforce-amid-india-gaming-ban","title":{"rendered":"MPL slashes workforce amid India gaming ban"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The Mobile Premier League will lay off around 300 employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
India.- The Bengaluru-based Mobile Premier League (MPL) has confirmed that it will lay off approximately 60 per cent of its local workforce \u2013 around 300 of 500 employees, after India passed the Online Gaming Act<\/a> on August 22, prohibiting all gaming in which users pay entry fees, deposits or stakes for monetary gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an internal email to staff, MPL co-founder and CEO Sai Srinivas wrote: \u201cWith a heavy heart, we have decided that we will be downsizing our India team significantly.\u201d He said India had contributed half of MPL\u2019s revenues, and that the new law means the company “would no longer be making any revenue from India in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The layoffs will affect staff across departments, including marketing, finance, operations, engineering, and legal. MPL said it is committed to supporting those impacted during the transition period, but did not provide details of severance or assistance packages. Backed by Peak XV Partners, formerly known as Sequoia Capital India, MPL was valued at US$2.3bn in 2021 and generated around US$100m in India last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ban, justified by the government on grounds of addiction and financial harm, affects a sector that was projected to reach $3.6bn by 2029<\/a>. Platforms such as Dream11, PokerBaazi, Zupee and WinZO have shut down their real-money offerings. Flutter\u2019s Junglee has also ceased operations in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Industry trade bodies, including the All India Gaming Federation, the eGaming Federation, and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports, warned in a joint statement that the move could serve as a \u201cdeath knell\u201d for India\u2019s online gaming industry, and A23 has filed a legal challenge<\/a> before the High Court of Karnataka, arguing that the ban \u201ccriminalises the legitimate business of playing online games of skill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics fear the ban could push activity into unregulated channels. Gaming law firm Segev LLC noted that, while the legislation is presented as progressive, it \u201cmoves against the current global tide\u201d of licensing and regulation that typically includes consumer safeguards and responsible gaming initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n