India Online Gaming Ban Forces Mobile Premier League to Cut 60% of Staff: MPL Layoffs Confirmed by CEO

India’s leading gaming platform, Mobile Premier League, has announced that cut its employees, and hence leading to significant layoffs. This decision came after the Indian government’s ban on paid online games. MPL’s CEO, Sai Srinivas, confirmed and revealed that the company would be downsizing its India operations. He mentions about ban as a key factor that has forced the company to wipe out revenue in its home market.

Mobile Premier League Layoffs:

Srinivas mentioned about company’s total revenue in his internal communication and said that India accounted for 50% of MPL’s total revenue, and hence, after government restrictions, the company expects zero earnings from its domestic operations.

As per the report, about 300 employees out of 500 in India, working in divisions including marketing, finance, operations, engineering, and legal, have been laid off. The Bengaluru-based company assured affected employees that it would provide support during the transition period.

Backed by Peak XV Partners, MPL had been valued at $2.3 billion in 2021, and its India revenue was estimated at $100 million in 2024-25.

Impact of India’s Online Gaming Ban

To recall, the Indian government prohibited paid online games in August, citing concerns about financial risks and addiction among youth. This ban has affected several games, including fantasy cricket, rummy, and poker apps.

Here’s How MPL Rival Dream11 Takes a Different Approach

Talking about the MPL’s rival company, Dream11 has taken a different approach altogether and ended its sponsorship of the Indian Cricket Team.

However, Dream11 CEO Harsh Jain confirmed that the company would not lay off employees, choosing instead to focus on developing new monetizable products. Dream Sports, Dream11’s parent company, is reportedly working on a money management app called Dream Money to help users invest in gold, mutual funds, and fixed deposits.