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WinZO forays into micro dramas, enters US after RMG ban

EntrackrEntrackr · 4m ago
WinZO forays into micro dramas, enters US after RMG ban
Medial

WinZO forays into micro dramas, enters US after RMG ban WinZO, the social gaming and entertainment platform, is expanding its playbook beyond real-money gaming (RMG) with a foray into micro dramas and subscription-led services, as it looks to navigate the government’s blanket ban on RMG in India. The company has also widened its global presence with a US debut, marking its third international market after Brazil. As part of its content push, WinZO has introduced WinZO TV, a new feature that serves up bite-sized drama shows for its 250 million users. The format delivers one to two-minute serialised videos, with initial episodes free to watch and later ones priced at Rs 2 each. With this, WinZO will face competition from Flick TV, Kuku FM’s Kuku TV, ShareChat’s QuickTV, Reel Saga, Reelies, Chai Bisket’s Chai Shots, and Eloelo. WinZO has raised over $100 million from marquee investors including Kalaari Capital, Griffin Gaming Partners, Makers Fund, and Courtside Ventures, and was last valued at around $340 million. While its RMG business faced significant headwinds due to regulatory changes and higher GST, the company has been seeking alternative monetisation avenues through subscriptions, in-app entertainment formats, and international expansion. WinZO’s expansion into the US comes nearly two years after its Brazil foray, aimed at reducing dependence on India following the introduction of a 28% GST regime on RMG apps. According to co-founders Saumya Singh Rathore and Paavan Nanda, the US launch will also allow Indian developers building culturally relevant games to reach a new global audience. For the fiscal year ending March 2024, WinZO reported a 70% year-on-year surge in operating revenue to Rs 1,055 crore, while its profit after tax (PAT) rose 2.5X to Rs 315 crore. The company outpaced its peers in revenue growth, compared to Nazara’s 4%, Zupee’s 34.9%, and MPL’s 22%. The government’s RMG ban is prompting many firms to explore alternative avenues. For context, Dream Sports, which owns Dream11, has ventured into wealth tech with Dream Money, letting users invest in digital gold and fixed deposits.

ED freezes Rs 192 Cr linked to WinZO subsidiary in money laundering probe

EntrackrEntrackr · 10d ago
ED freezes Rs 192 Cr linked to WinZO subsidiary in money laundering probe
Medial

News All Stories ED freezes Rs 192 Cr linked to WinZO subsidiary in money laundering probe Last month, ED arrested WinZO co-founders Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore after search and seizure operations at company premises and residences. Shashank Pathak 01 Jan 2026 20:46 IST Follow Us The Directorate of Enforcement has frozen assets worth around Rs 192 crore classified as Proceeds of Crime (POC) belonging to Zo Games Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of WinZO Pvt Ltd, after conducting a search operation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The assets were frozen in the form of bank balances, fixed deposits, and mutual funds, the ED said in a press release. The agency stated that evidence pointed to deceptive gaming practices on the WinZO platform, where users were made to play real money games against bots and algorithm-driven personas without disclosure. The probe also found that withdrawals of user funds were restricted or prevented in certain cases. So far, the ED has identified total Proceeds of Crime of around Rs 802 crore in the case. Earlier, in November 2025, the ED arrested WinZO co-founders Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore after search and seizure operations at company premises and residences. These actions followed the freeze of assets worth over Rs 505 crore under the PMLA. The assets included bank balances, fixed deposits, mutual funds, and other financial instruments linked to the company and its related entities. The investigation is based on multiple FIRs and hundreds of user complaints that allege manipulation of gameplay, misuse of customer data, non-refund of user funds, and continuation of real money gaming activities despite regulatory restrictions. Investigators said user funds remained with the platform even after restrictions on real money gaming came into force. The ED has also flagged overseas fund movements, with part of the alleged Proceeds of Crime routed to the US and Singapore as overseas investments. Funds worth $54 million were found parked in a US bank account held by WINZO US Inc. The WinZO case forms part of a wider enforcement phase in 2025. During the year, the ED initiated action against startup-origin companies such as Dream11, Gameskraft, Probo, Paytm, Myntra, Simpl, and OctaFX under money laundering, FEMA, and foreign-exchange related probes.

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