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A23-parent Head Digital Works acquires Adda52 for Rs 491 Cr

EntrackrEntrackr · 6m ago
A23-parent Head Digital Works acquires Adda52 for Rs 491 Cr
Medial

A23-parent Head Digital Works acquires Adda52 for Rs 491 Cr Online gaming company Head Digital Works (HDW), the parent company of gaming firm A23, has acquired Deltatech Gaming, the operator of online poker platform Adda52. HDW announced in a press release that the acquisition aims to strengthen its online poker portfolio. The transaction will take place in two phases for a total consideration of Rs 491 crore ($57.5 million). Initially, Head Digital Works will acquire a 51% stake in Deltatech Gaming following the merger. Post-merger, DeltaCorp Limited will retain a 5.7% stake in Head Digital Works. Through this acquisition, HDW aims to leverage Adda52’s expertise and technological capabilities to accelerate its growth in the online gaming market. Launched in 2011, Adda52 offers a poker experience with various game formats, tournaments, and cash games, attracting both casual and professional poker players across India. According to HDW, the acquisition will enhance the gaming experience, drive technological advancements, and cater to evolving user preferences. The company plans to expand its poker business, explore new growth avenues, and build a comprehensive and diversified skill-gaming platform for its customers. A23 claims to have over 75 million registered users across India and operates five games - rummy, fantasy, poker, carrom, and pool. A23’s net revenue stood at Rs 841 crore in FY24, compared to Rs 839 crore in FY23. Despite the flat revenue, controlled expenditures and increased other income helped A23 achieve a 24% rise in net profits to Rs 72 crore in FY24. In November last year, A23 also completed its first-ever employee stock options (ESOP) buyback program worth $3 million.

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A23 parent lays off 500 employees following RMG ban: Report

EntrackrEntrackr · 10d ago
A23 parent lays off 500 employees following RMG ban: Report
Medial

Head Digital Works, the parent company of A23 Rummy, A23 Poker, and Cricket.com, has laid off approximately 500 employees, nearly two-thirds of its workforce. The move comes after India enacted the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which imposes a blanket ban on real-money online gaming. Last week, A23 also filed a petition before the Karnataka High Court challenging the newly enacted law. The next hearing is scheduled for September 8 at 2:30 PM. “At Head Digital Works, our people have been central to our growth and it was with careful consideration that we took the decision to let go of a significant part of our workforce. We will ensure that this transition is handled with responsibility, providing meaningful severance and support to those impacted, and we remain grateful for their contributions. While recent regulatory changes necessitated this step, we are confident that a balanced framework will evolve over time, and we remain committed to building a resilient future and exploring new opportunities for the company," said Siddharth Sharma, CEO, Head Digital Works. The decision was announced in a company-wide town hall, and the firm now has about 200 employees focused on key teams. Meanwhile, Head Digital Works is evaluating new business opportunities beyond gaming to build a sustainable future. Head Digital Works further highlighted the broader impact on the sector, warning of job losses affecting over 200,000 people and threats to foreign and domestic investments in India’s booming Rs 23,440 crore online skill gaming industry. Following the ban, more layoffs are expected across real-money gaming platforms. Recently, Bengaluru-based unicorn MPL was in the news for cutting about 60% of its staff in India, roughly 300 employees.

A23 reports Rs 841 Cr revenue and Rs 72 Cr profit in FY24

EntrackrEntrackr · 7m ago
A23 reports Rs 841 Cr revenue and Rs 72 Cr profit in FY24
Medial

Online rummy platform A23 reported flat revenue growth for the fiscal year ending March 2024. However, the company achieved a 24% increase in profits, driven by controlled expenses and an increase in non-operating income during the same period. A23’s net revenue was recorded at Rs 841 crore in FY24 from Rs 839 crore in FY23, its consolidated annual financial statements sourced from the Registrar of Companies (RoC) show. Notably, the firm's gross revenue grew by 31% to Rs 1,378 crore in FY24, up from Rs 1,051 crore in FY23. Of this, Rs 537 crore was paid out to players, resulting in a net revenue of Rs 841 crore for FY24. The platform fee, or commission, charged as a percentage of the buy-in fees from users, remained the sole revenue source for A23 during FY24. Additionally, the platform earned Rs 37 crore, primarily from interest on deposits and current investments, bringing its total revenue to Rs 878 crore in FY24. The company claims to have over 5 crore players on its platform and operates five games - rummy, fantasy, poker, carrom, and pool. A23 has not disclosed its overheads much and booked Rs 515 crore, which is 68% of the overall cost under the miscellaneous head. This might include all the major costs including advertising, servers, and hosting. A23’s employee benefits grew 41% to Rs 138 crore in FY24 from Rs 98 crore in FY23. Its legal, safety and security, printing, traveling, and other overheads pushed the total expenditure to Rs 761 crore in FY24. Despite the flat scale, the controlled expenditure and increase in other income helped A23 to post a 24% increase in its net profits to Rs 72 crore in FY24, compared to Rs 58 crore in FY23. Its ROCE and EBITDA margin improved to 11.5% and 15.26%, respectively while the expense-per-revenue ratio stood at Rs 0.90. At the end of FY24, A23’s total current assets were recorded at Rs 613 crore with cash and bank balances of Rs 534 crore.

RMG ban pushes Zupee to cut 170 jobs

EntrackrEntrackr · 3d ago
RMG ban pushes Zupee to cut 170 jobs
Medial

Real-money gaming (RMG) platform Zupee has laid off around 170 employees, or about 30% of its workforce, as the company restructures operations following the government’s ban on RMG platforms. “This has been a tough call for us, but was necessary to adapt to the new regulatory framework. Our colleagues who are leaving us have been an integral part of Zupee’s journey and we will always remain thankful for their contribution in building Zupee into what it is today. We are providing comprehensive support to help our colleagues step seamlessly & with confidence into their next roles,” said Dilsher Singh Malhi, Founder & CEO of Zupee. As part of the separation package, Zupee is offering affected employees severance pay of up to six months, extended health benefits, and a Rs 1 crore medical support fund. The company has also promised priority rehiring for those impacted. The layoffs at Zupee come weeks after other RMG companies, including Head Digital Works (A23), MPL, Baazi Games, and Games24x7, cut hundreds of jobs following the ban. A23’s parent company recently let go of nearly 500 employees, or two-thirds of its staff. Founded in 2018 by Malhi and Siddhant Saurabh, Zupee had been among the leading players in the RMG space, claiming over 150 million registered users. With RMG now off the table, the company is pivoting to social and casual games, while also experimenting with subscription products such as Zupee Plus and original short-form content under Zupee Studio. Zupee’s revenue from operations grew by 35% year-on-year to Rs 1,123 crore in FY24 from Rs 832 crore in FY23. Moreover, it also turned profitable during the same period, posting a net profit of Rs 146 crore. Its FY25 report has yet to be released. The RMG ban has triggered a wave of layoffs across the sector, forcing companies to explore ad-driven and subscription-led monetisation models. Like Zupee, WinZo has forayed into microdramas, while Dream11’s parent has entered the wealth management space with its new app Dream Money.

Karnataka HC issues notice to Centre on A23’s plea against gaming law

EntrackrEntrackr · 15d ago
Karnataka HC issues notice to Centre on A23’s plea against gaming law
Medial

The Karnataka High Court has stepped into the debate on India’s new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which bans all forms of online money games, including skill-based games like rummy and poker. The court, led by Justice B M Shyam Prasad, has issued notice to the Union government. It has asked the Centre to file its reply to a petition filed by Head Digital Works, the parent company of A23, which became the first gaming operator to challenge the new law. The petitioners, represented by senior advocates C. Aryama Sundaram and Dhyan Chinappa, argued that the new Act is misleading. Its title suggests “promotion and regulation,” but in effect, it imposes a blanket ban on all money games. They warned the court that the sudden implementation of the law could trigger a “huge backlash” across the country. According to them, the ban could destroy thousands of jobs, disrupt ongoing businesses, and impact a sector that has attracted heavy investment. They requested that the government either delay the notification of the law or at least provide seven days’ advance notice so that affected parties can seek legal remedies. On behalf of the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the plea. He argued that once the President has given assent to a bill, notifying it is a constitutional function. The courts, he said, cannot stop this process. However, Mehta also acknowledged that the notification could be issued soon and assured the court that he would seek instructions from the government. The next hearing is scheduled for September 8 at 2:30 PM. The petition by A23’s parent company marked the first major legal challenge to the new law. However, leading players like Dream11, Gameskraft, and MPL have chosen not to contest the legislation in court.

Nazara acquires UK-based game publisher Curve Games for Rs 247 Cr

EntrackrEntrackr · 3m ago
Nazara acquires UK-based game publisher Curve Games for Rs 247 Cr
Medial

Nazara Technologies has announced the acquisition of 100% ownership in Curve Digital Entertainment Limited, a UK-based publisher of PC and console games, for Rs 247 crore ($29 million). The deal is being executed through its wholly owned subsidiary, Nazara Technologies UK Ltd, the company informed in a stock exchange filing on Tuesday. CDEL, a leading video game publisher for console and PC platforms, will become a step-down subsidiary of Nazara following the transaction. The deal also includes Curve’s six subsidiaries, such as Kuju Ltd, Runner Duck Games, and IronOak Games, which will be integrated into Nazara’s portfolio upon completion. CDEL is being acquired from Catalis Group, a UK-based media and entertainment company that owns a portfolio of interactive entertainment and QA/testing firms. The acquisition aligns with Nazara’s strategy to expand its footprint in premium game publishing globally. With a strong lineup of original IPs and a proven track record, Curve reported revenues of Rs 263.5 crore and EBITDA of GBP 10.6 million (approximately Rs 120 crore) in CY24. The acquisition is expected to strengthen Nazara’s presence in key gaming markets, including the US, UK, Japan, and South Korea. According to Nazara, the transaction will be funded through intra-group debt and is expected to close within 45 days, subject to regulatory clearances and other customary conditions. Recently, Absolute Sports, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies and the parent company of Sportskeeda.com, signed definitive agreements to acquire TJRWrestling.net and ITRWrestling.com from Titan Insider Digital. In January 2025, it purchased two mobile games, King of Thieves and CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars, from Zeptolab for USD 7.7 million. Nazara has also set aside $100 million for future mergers and acquisitions to further its global expansion strategy. While Nazara has yet to file its Q4 FY25 results, its operating revenue rose by 67% to Rs 535 crore in Q3 FY25 from Rs 320 crore in Q3 FY24. During the period, the company’s profit fell by 53.6% year-on-year to Rs 13.7 crore.

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