Bengaluru-based gaming company Gameskraft has laid off around 120 employees across operations, technology, marketing, finance, and customer support as part of a restructuring exercise. The move comes in the wake of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which bans all real-money games in India.
The company, best known for platforms like Rummyculture and Pocket52, was forced to shut down these offerings after the law came into effect. Founder Prithvi Singh called the decision “painful but unavoidable,” stressing that the layoffs were driven entirely by external factors and not employee performance.
Founded in 2017, Gameskraft grew into one of India’s fastest-growing real-money gaming firms, riding on the popularity of skill-based platforms. Over the years, it became a leading player in the sector until the recent regulatory changes reshaped the industry’s future.
To ease the impact, Gameskraft has promised severance packages, leave encashment, and extended health insurance until March 2026, with an option for employees to convert policies into individual plans.
The layoffs come at a turbulent time for Gameskraft, which is also grappling with a fraud case involving former CFO Ramesh Prabhu, accused of siphoning off ₹270 crore over five years. The company reported a 25% drop in net profit to ₹706 crore in FY25, despite revenues rising 12% to ₹3,896 crore.
Gameskraft joins a growing list of gaming firms hit hard by the ban. A23 Rummy cut 500 jobs, Zupee axed 170 roles, MPL is shrinking up to 60% of its staff, and Baazi Games has reduced headcount by 200. Games24x7 is reportedly laying off 70% of its workforce.
Industry experts estimate that nearly 2,000 jobs have been lost in the online gaming sector since the ban. While investor sentiment has cooled, some believe the crisis could eventually drive a healthier ecosystem focused on casual, skill-based, and international gaming opportunities.
