MPL to Lay Off 300 Employees After India’s Online Gaming Ban

Mobile Premier League (MPL), one of India’s biggest online gaming platforms, is preparing to let go of around 300 employees following the government’s ban on real-money gaming (RMG).

The decision makes MPL one of the first major gaming companies to reduce its workforce in response to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which outlawed cash-based digital games in the country.

Layoffs to Affect Multiple Teams

As per reports, MPL’s job cuts could affect up to 60% of its local workforce, hitting key departments such as legal, finance, marketing, operations, and engineering.

The company, founded in 2018, was once a pioneer in bringing fantasy sports, puzzles, casual games, and board games to a large Indian audience. Over the years, MPL expanded aggressively, even signing high-profile partnerships with the NBA and the Pro Kabaddi League. However, with real-money games now banned nationwide, the company has been forced into a major restructuring.

On its website and app, MPL has already stopped accepting deposits, stating that it is operating “in compliance with the law.” The platform, however, is not shutting down entirely. MPL confirmed it still intends to continue with free-to-play games, a shift that many other operators are also considering.

Industry Job Losses Could Be Massive

The layoffs at MPL are only the beginning of what experts believe will be a much larger wave across India’s digital entertainment and technology sectors. Initial estimates suggest that the ban places around 200,000 jobs at risk. Many of these roles are tied directly to the RMG ecosystem, including engineers, developers, marketers, and customer support staff.

For MPL, this restructuring is especially difficult because of how dependent the platform was on paid contests. According to analysts, real-money games contributed nearly 50% of MPL’s overall revenue. Rival Dream11, India’s largest fantasy sports operator, was even more reliant on RMG — with nearly 90% of its revenues tied to paid fantasy contests.

Rivals Facing Similar Struggles

Dream11, a direct competitor to MPL, recently had to withdraw as the official jersey sponsor of the Indian National Cricket Team, just weeks before the Asia Cup 2025. The company’s parent, Dream Sports, is now exploring international expansion and legal options while pivoting to non-monetary formats.

The two firms — MPL and Dream11 — had long been regarded as rivals, especially in cricket-based fantasy sports. But now, both are struggling with the same challenges: how to retain users, monetize free gaming models, and adapt to a regulatory framework that has shut down their primary revenue source.

Legal Challenges Emerging

Not every operator is accepting the government’s ruling quietly. Head Digital Works, the company behind A23 Rummy Online and A23 Poker Online, has become the first gaming firm to legally challenge the ban. The case is expected to focus on the long-standing debate of skill versus chance.

For years, India’s courts have distinguished between games of skill (like rummy and fantasy sports) and games of chance (like slots or betting), with the former previously allowed under regulation. By imposing a blanket ban, critics argue, the new law may overreach and violate Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution, which protects the right to trade and carry out business.

Wider Implications for India’s Gaming Industry

The new law is already reshaping India’s gaming ecosystem. The industry was valued at around $3.7 billion and projected to nearly double by 2029.

Some, like WinZO, have already moved overseas — with recent launches in Brazil and the US. Others, like Zupee, are doubling down on free-to-play models, supported by ads and in-app purchases. But for companies heavily invested in fantasy sports tied to cricket, such as MPL and Dream11, the road ahead looks particularly challenging.

The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) has already warned the government that the ban could wipe out thousands of jobs and drive users toward illegal offshore gaming platforms, raising concerns around fraud and unsafe play. The federation is expected to support legal challenges in the Supreme Court while lobbying for a more balanced regulatory framework.

In the meantime, companies will now need to decide whether to fight the ban in courts, expand overseas, or accept the free-to-play model as their new reality.