Mobile Premier League to cut 60% of workforce after India iGaming ban

Summary

Mobile Premier League (MPL) is set to reduce around 60% of its workforce after the Indian government pushed through a national ban on paid online gaming (iGaming). The bill, introduced in August and given presidential assent on 22 August, outlaws games where users pay fees or stake money for monetary gain. MPL has already stopped deposits on its app and taken down real-money play on MPL.live.

MPL CEO Sai Srinivas told staff the company will be “downsizing its India team significantly”. Reuters reports roughly 300 of the company’s c.500 India staff could be affected, across functions including marketing, finance, operations, engineering and legal. India previously generated about 50% of M-League revenues. MPL retains operations and growth ambitions outside India, including efforts in the US market.

Key Points

India’s iGaming ban was passed by the upper house and received presidential assent on 22 August 2025.
MPL has suspended deposits and cash games on its India-facing platforms in compliance with the new law.
The operator plans to cut roughly 60% of its workforce, with reports suggesting about 300 of 500 India staff could be laid off.
Roles across marketing, finance, operations, engineering and legal are likely to be impacted.
India accounted for around half of MPL’s revenues; the ban removes near-term revenue from that market.
MPL is looking to grow in other markets, notably the US, to offset the India impact.
Industry groups and some operators have launched legal challenges and warned the ban could boost illegal black‑market activity and harm regulated frameworks.

Context and relevance

The decision is a major regulatory shock for the Indian online gaming sector — a multibillion-dollar industry — and has immediate operational and employment consequences for large local teams. For companies with significant India exposure, the ban forces rapid restructuring, market reallocation and potential pivots to new jurisdictions. Regulators, operators and trade bodies are now engaged in legal and public-policy pushes; the wider industry will watch for outcomes of court challenges and any clarifying rules on games of skill versus chance.

Why should I read this?

Short version: this is a big deal if you care about online gaming, market risk or tech scale-ups. MPL just lost half its revenue pool overnight and is cutting hundreds of jobs — that ripples through hiring, investor sentiment and where companies will place their bets next. We’ve skimmed the detail so you don’t have to — quick, sharp and to the point.

Source

Source: https://igamingbusiness.com/strategy/management/mpl-cut-workforce-india-igaming-ban/