Digital gaming company, Games24X7 has begun a massive downsizing exercise, with nearly 70 per cent of its employees expected to lose their jobs. The company, which had close to 700–750 staff at its peak, is now reducing its workforce by more than half, leaving only a small team to continue operations.
Around 500 roles are likely to be affected in the process.
The layoffs come in the wake of the newly-enacted Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. The legislation, passed by Parliament on 21 August, bans all forms of money-based online games while encouraging e-sports and other skill-based gaming formats. The Act also prohibits advertisements for money games and blocks banks and financial institutions from enabling payments linked to such platforms.
The penalties under the law are steep. Promoting or advertising money-based games can lead to two years in prison and fines up to Rs 50 lakh. Facilitating financial transactions for these games can invite jail terms of up to three years and fines of up to Rs 1 crore. Repeat violations carry even stricter consequences, with imprisonment between three to five years and penalties of up to Rs 2 crore.
The new regulations have forced several real-money gaming firms to scale back or shut down operations in India. Many companies have already halted their money-gaming platforms and started large-scale layoffs.
Despite the government’s firm stance, the bigger challenge lies in curbing offshore online gaming and betting platforms, which continue to attract Indian players and operate beyond domestic jurisdiction.
