Mobile Premier League

Mobile Premier League (MPL), an online gaming company valued at $2.3 billion, is laying off approximately 300 employees, which represents about 60% of its Indian workforce. This drastic downsizing, announced in early September 2025, is a direct result of the Indian government's recent ban on real-money online gaming, which targeted games like fantasy cricket and rummy. The ban has severely disrupted the industry, forcing MPL to shift its focus to free-to-play games and accelerate its expansion into international markets such as the U.S., Europe, and Brazil.

India's online gaming startup Mobile Premier League (MPL) is cutting its workforce by approximately 50%, eliminating around 350 jobs, as announced in an email to employees on Tuesday. The layoffs are a response to new taxation rules from New Delhi that impose a 28% tax on online real-money games, significantly increasing the company's tax burden. This cost-cutting measure aims to reduce expenses and ensure business viability in the face of the new tax regime.

Mobile Premier League (MPL), an Indian esports and skill gaming startup, laid off 100 employees, representing about 10% of its workforce, in late May 2022. This move came as the company exited the Indonesian market and discontinued its in-app streaming product, responding to a broader slowdown in the startup ecosystem after a pandemic-fueled boom. The Bengaluru-based founders cited a market shift toward rewarding profitable growth over aggressive expansion, necessitating rapid restructuring to ensure long-term health. Affected employees received full severance and extended ESOP options.