Games24x7 to layoffs 500 employees after govt ban on money-based online games

After the Centre banned online real money gaming, digital gaming company games24x7 is reportedly laying off about 70% of its staff.

According to PTI, the layoffs will affect about 500 of Games24x7’s 700–750 employees, roughly 70% of its workforce.

A company staff member confirmed that most employees are being laid off, though the exact number wasn’t shared. Several other real-money gaming firms have also begun cutting large parts of their workforce.

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The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, passed on August 21, bans all online money games but supports e-sports and other online games. 

It also prohibits ads for money games and blocks banks from processing related transactions. Violations can lead to jail terms of up to five years and fines of up to ₹2 crore. 

Major Indian players have already shut down their money-based games, though foreign platforms remain a challenge. 

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Estimates suggest 45 crore people in India lost about ₹20,000 crore in a year due to online money gaming addiction.

Founded in 2006, Games24x7 runs an online skill gaming platform. It started with its popular rummy app, RummyCircle, and later expanded into fantasy sports with My11Circle.

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