Mobile Premier League (MPL), a gaming company based out of Bengaluru, India, could lay off around 300 employees, which is reportedly 60 percent of its workforce. This comes after the government banned real-money online gaming in a bill passed by the Lok Sabha last month. The bill also recognised esports as an official sport, a move that the gaming community welcomed with open arms.
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A Reuters report revealed that MPL CEO Sai Srinivas revealed the decision in an internal memo. He reportedly wrote that the decision to significantly downsize the India team was taken with a “heavy heart”.
“We are committed to providing those impacted with every possible support during this transition period. India accounted for 50% of M-League’s revenues and this change would mean that we would no longer be making any revenue from India in the near future,” he added as per the report. However, the email didn’t specify the exact number of job cuts.
The downsizing is expected to affect departments such as marketing, operations, finance, engineering, and legal.
A company insider told Reuters that approximately 300 out of 500 employees are likely to be laid off. With the ban eliminating paid contests and prize-based formats, MPL is shifting its focus to free-to-play markets in Europe, along with structured real-money games in regions like the U.S. and Brazil.
Earlier, MPL had confirmed that it has suspended all money-based games on its platform in compliance with the recently-passed bill.
“Effective immediately, we are suspending all gaming offerings involving money on the MPL platform in India”, the company had said in a statement in August.
The law also carries penalties for violation, including fines up to ₹1 crore or jail terms. Unlike others, A23 became the first company to challenge the legislation in court, arguing it criminalises legitimate skill-based games. MPL and Dream11, however, have not pursued legal action and are instead exploring new business models.
Industry associations have also appealed to Home Minister Amit Shah, warning the blanket ban poses a risk of up to ₹20,000 crore in lost tax revenue and could push millions of players toward unregulated platforms.
For MPL, the layoffs mark a drastic realignment of operations. With India once accounting for roughly half of its revenues, the company’s strategy now pivots toward global, regulation-friendly markets. Meanwhile, Dream11 and other platforms are following suit, suspending money-based games and laying the groundwork for alternative formats.
As India enforces tighter control over online gaming, traditional gaming studios and e-sports platforms may benefit from reduced competition in real-money formats. But for many startups, investors, and service providers, the path forward will require innovation, compliance, and adaptability.
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Divyanshi Sharma
Divyanshi Sharma is a media and communications professional with over 8 years of experience in the industry. With a strong background in tech journalism, she has covered everything from the latest gadgets to gaming trends and brings a sharp editorial lens to every story. She holds a master’s diploma in mass communication and a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Her love for writing and gaming began early—often skipping classes to try out the latest titles—which naturally evolved into a career at the intersection of technology and storytelling. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her exploring virtual worlds on her console or PC, or testing out a new laptop she managed to get her hands on. View Full Profile
