Mon Sep 01 03:37:37 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the text, suitable for publication in The Hindu, keeping in mind the provided contextual information:
**Headline: MPL to Slash India Workforce After Government Ban on Paid Online Games**
**NEW DELHI, September 1, 2025** – Indian online gaming app Mobile Premier League (MPL) is set to lay off approximately 60% of its India-based workforce, impacting around 300 employees, following the government’s recent ban on paid online games. This marks the first major industry reaction to the new regulation, which aims to curb financial and addiction risks, particularly among young people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government implemented the ban this month, effectively shutting down numerous gaming apps offering paid fantasy cricket, rummy, and poker games. The move has sent shockwaves through the Indian gaming industry, which had been projected to reach a valuation of $3.6 billion by 2029 and is backed by prominent venture capital firms like Tiger Global and Peak XV Partners. Companies such as MPL and Dream11 have seen significant growth in recent years by offering paid fantasy cricket games with financial prizes for winners.
MPL CEO Sai Srinivas, in an internal email seen by Reuters, acknowledged the significant downsizing, stating that the decision was made with a “heavy heart.” He emphasized that the company would provide support to affected employees during the transition, but also stated that India accounted for 50% of M-League’s revenues and this change would mean that MPL would no longer be making any revenue from India in the near future.
The company source indicated that the layoffs would affect divisions including marketing, finance, operations, engineering, and legal. MPL, valued at $2.3 billion in 2021 and backed by Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India), plans to shift its focus to free-to-play games in India and strengthen its presence in the U.S. market. Sources say the Indian revenue was around 100 million last year.
While MPL and Dream11 have decided against pursuing legal challenges to the ban, gaming company A23 launched the first challenge last week. The industry continues to argue that the games are skill-based and therefore should not be classified as gambling, which is already heavily restricted in India.
The long-term impact of the ban on India’s burgeoning online gaming sector remains to be seen, but MPL’s decision highlights the immediate and significant consequences of the government’s regulatory action.
First Piper 