Mobile Premier League (MPL), a Bengaluru-based real-money gaming startup, is laying off 350 employees. This decision, announced on August 8, 2023, is a direct response to the Indian government's imposition of a 28% GST on the real-money gaming industry, which is expected to increase the company's tax burden by 350-400 percent. This marks the second major round of layoffs for MPL in about a year, following a previous cut of over 100 employees in May 2022. The move highlights the severe financial strain the new tax policy is placing on companies within India's online gaming sector.
