Zupee lays off 170 employees after ban on real-money gaming; CEO says, 'This has been a tough call for us'

Online gaming platform Zupee has laid off 170 employees, about 30% of its workforce, weeks after the parliament passed the Online Gaming Bill 2025, which led to a ban on real-money gaming (RMG).

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“This has been a tough call for us, but was necessary to adapt to the new regulatory framework,” said Dilsher Singh Malhi, Zupee’s founder and CEO.

"Our colleagues who are leaving us have been an integral part of Zupee's journey and we will always remain thankful for their contribution in building Zupee into what it is today. We are providing comprehensive support to help our colleagues step seamlessly & with confidence into their next roles," he added.

The company said affected employees will receive severance of up to six months depending on tenure, continued health coverage, and access to a Rs 1 crore medical support fund. It has also pledged priority in rehiring as new roles open.

The layoffs place Zupee among a growing list of gaming companies cutting jobs as the RMG ban reverberates across the sector. Head Digital Works, the operator of A23 Rummy, let go of nearly 500 employees earlier this month. Mobile Premier League (MPL) is also reducing its India staff by as much as 60%. Baazi Games, which runs PokerBaazi, cut about 200 jobs, while My11Circle parent Games24x7 has also carried out significant layoffs.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, prohibits money-based online games in which users deposit funds with the expectation of winning returns. The blanket ban has upended a once-thriving market for skill-based games such as rummy, poker, and fantasy sports, which together attracted millions of players and hundreds of millions of dollars in investment.

Founded in 2018 by Malhi and Siddhant Saurabh, Zupee built its brand around culturally familiar board games like Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, and Carrom. Before the ban, it claimed more than 150 million registered users.

Now, Zupee is pivoting. It has introduced Zupee Plus, a subscription priced at Rs 499 for three months that offers ad-free play and unlimited access to shows, and Zupee Studio, which produces bite-sized drama content. The company said it remains committed to its vision of “reimagining social gaming and entertainment that connects with our cultural heritage.”

The shift reflects a broader industry scramble to reinvent revenue models, with platforms experimenting with advertising, subscriptions, and even ventures beyond gaming. WinZo has launched microdramas, while Dream11’s parent company reportedly plans to launch a personal money management app called Dream Money.