The consequences of India’s shift to ban real money gaming are continuing to be felt.
According to a Reuters report, the Indian online gaming app Mobile Premier League (MPL) will decrease its local workforce by 60%, as the country prepares for a new era of gambling regulation.
Furthermore, news from the staffing firm CIEL HR also detailed that the gaming ban has left almost 2,000 workers searching for new jobs amid the uncertainty within the sector.
Following the decision, MPL joined the likes of Flutter and Dream11 in pulling their RMG offering from the Indian market, choosing to focus on its free-to-play games and its operations in Europe, the US and Brazil.
As a result, a source within the company has told Reuters that 300 of its 500 staff in India will be let go from across its marketing, finance, operations, engineering and legal divisions.
An internal email, seen by Reuters, from MPL’s CEO, Sai Srinivas, said: “With a heavy heart we have decided that we will be downsizing our India Team significantly.
“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.”
Operators in the country, including large domestic players such as Dream11 and international operators like Flutter, responded to the ruling by pulling their RMG offerings from the market.
Backlash over the decision has been significant, with heavyweight friction coming in the form of Flutter, as the operator voiced its anger at the lack of consultation over the call.
Flutter revealed it is “disappointed” to have had to make such a decision, and lamented the lack of consultation with industry stakeholders to “consider the significant adverse consequences” of implementing the bill.
“Over the last four years Junglee has invested significantly in its local market, building a workforce of over 1,100 employees to deliver innovative skill-based gaming products to Indian customers. Central to this has been a strategy which prioritises consumer protections and responsible gaming,” added Flutter CEO, Peter Jackson.
“I am extremely disappointed with the sudden changes to the regulatory landscape in India.”