Mobile Premier League (MPL), a prominent Indian online gaming application, is set to implement significant downsizing, affecting approximately 60% of its local workforce. This move comes in direct response to the Indian government's recent ban on paid online games, a decision cited by authorities as necessary due to financial and addiction risks, particularly among the youth. The ban has led to the shutdown of numerous gaming applications that offered paid fantasy cricket, rummy, and poker games.

The government's new law has sent shockwaves through the Indian online gaming industry, which was projected to reach a valuation of $3.6 billion by 2029 and is backed by major venture capital firms such as Tiger Global and Peak XV Partners. Both MPL and its rival, Dream11, gained considerable popularity by providing paid fantasy cricket games where players could win financial prizes. The industry has consistently argued that these games rely on skill, thereby distinguishing them from gambling, which is already heavily regulated in India.

As part of its strategic realignment, MPL will focus on free-to-play games and enhance its business presence in the U.S. market. The company plans to lay off roughly 300 of its 500 India-based staff across various departments including marketing, finance, operations, engineering, and legal. In an internal email, MPL CEO Sai Srinivas expressed the difficult decision to