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RMG ban pushes Zupee to cut 170 jobs

EntrackrEntrackr · 1d 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.

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WinZO forays into micro dramas, enters US after RMG ban

EntrackrEntrackr · 19d 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.

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