Zupee Layoffs

India's ban on real-money gaming continued to bite at Zupee, which laid off around 200 employees in late January 2026, nearly 40% of its workforce, in its second major round since the rule disrupted its core business. CEO and cofounder Dilsher Singh Malhi announced the cuts during a town hall. The reductions spanned product development, operations, customer support and marketing as the startup pivoted toward culturally rooted online social games and short-video content under a new Zupee Studio offering. "As the company sharpens its focus on core growth areas... certain roles have been restructured," Zupee said. The round followed an earlier cut of about 170 employees, roughly 30% of staff, four months prior. Affected employees would receive severance benefits, career transition assistance and priority hiring referrals through partner organisations, the company said.

Reason: restructuring after India's real-money gaming ban disrupted core business

Source: yourstory.com

Zupee, the New Delhi-based skill-gaming platform, cut 170 jobs in September 2025, representing 30% of its workforce, after India's parliament passed the Online Gaming Bill 2025 and banned real-money gaming outright. CEO Dilsher Singh Malhi acknowledged the decision was "a tough call" but said it was "necessary to adapt to the new regulatory framework." The company, which had more than 150 million registered users playing Ludo and Carrom, is pivoting to free-to-play games and short-form video through a new unit called Zupee Studio. Affected employees received severance of up to six months depending on tenure, continued health coverage, access to a Rs 1 crore medical assistance fund, and priority consideration for future openings. Zupee's cuts came alongside similar reductions at Games24x7, MPL, and Head Digital Works.

Reason: India's real-money gaming ban (Online Gaming Bill 2025)

Source: yourstory.com