TECHNOLOGY
YouTube unveils India-first separate ad targeting for urban and rural audiences
Google-owned YouTube is also introducing new immersive masthead ads on connected TVs amid rising viewership and ahead of the festive season.
STARTUP
Gaming company Zupee cuts 170 jobs, offers financial assistance to impacted staff
Zupee joins a growing list of companies that have reduced their staff in recent weeks, as the industry grapples with the fallout of India's blanket ban on real-money games.
BUSINESS
Dream11-linked FIFS says it won't contest India's online gaming law that bans real-money games
According to sources, any FIFS member contesting the legislation will no longer be associated with the fantasy industry body.
STARTUP
Zupee taps micro dramas, subscriptions after real-money gaming ban
Zupee's paid subscription service, Zupee Plus, offers ad-free games and unlimited access to shows for Rs 499 for three months
TECHNOLOGY
Google expands its AI Mode search feature with Hindi support
AI Mode is Google's attempt to counter answer engines like Perplexity, which have gained ground over the past couple of years.
STARTUP
A23 owner Head Digital Works cuts around 500 jobs after govt's real-money gaming ban
Head Digital Works joins a growing list of real-money gaming companies that have carried out large-scale layoffs in the past week following the government's blanket ban.
STARTUP
Bitkraft Ventures to step up India investments after Centre's new online gaming law
Bitkraft expects five to six mobile games to surpass $100 million in annual in-app purchase (IAP) revenue in India by the end of 2025.
BUSINESS
Seekho raises $28 million funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners
Seekho, an edutainment video platform, plans to use the capital raised to build new interactive content formats and invest in AI-powered learning experiences.
STARTUP
After MPL and PokerBaazi parent, Games24x7 begins layoffs following govt ban on real-money games
Games24x7, which operates the online rummy platform Rummy Circle and fantasy sports platform My11Circle, is the latest casualty of the government's ban on real-money games.
STARTUP
Nazara-backed Baazi Games to cut over 200 jobs after govt's real-money gaming ban
The job cuts at the PokerBaazi parent firm comes after the government introduced a new online gaming law that has imposed a blanket ban on real-money games in the country.
STARTUP
MPL to significantly downsize its India workforce after govt's real-money gaming ban
MPL and other real-money gaming firms had suspended contests and games involving money on their platforms after the Parliament passed the online gaming law that prohibits such games.
STARTUP
Online gaming law: Karnataka HC to hear Head Digital Works' interim relief plea on September 8
Head Digital Works, which operates the online rummy platform A23 Rummy, had approached the Karnataka High Court on April 28, challenging the constitutional validity of the government's new online gaming law.
STARTUP
Gaming platform MPL won't contest real-money gaming ban
MPL joins a growing list of companies, including Dream11 parent Dream Sports, Gameskraft, Zupee, and PokerBaazi parent firm Moonshine Technology, which have decided not to challenge the law
STARTUP
A23 owner Head Digital Works moves Karnataka High Court against real-money gaming ban
This marks the first legal challenge to the promotion and regulation online gaming law. The high court is expected to hear the matter on August 30.
STARTUP
After Dream11 and Gameskraft, Zupee says it won't challenge India's real-money gaming ban
Zupee plans to shift its focus to developing online social games and entertainment avenues that "go beyond mere recreation"
STARTUP
99% of Dream11's 260 million users never won or lost more than Rs 10,000 in their lifetime, says co-founder Harsh Jain
Dream Sports CEO Harsh Jain said that regulation would have been the right approach to address the issue of societal impact and financial distress linked to RMG apps, as prohibition is likely to increase the prevalence of a black market.
STARTUP
Nazara, nCore Games, others form new video game association after online gaming law
Indian Game Publishers and Developers Association aims to promote the creation of original Made-in-India IP, bring Indian stories into gaming, and skill-building across the AVGC value chain.
STARTUP
Dream11 co-founder Harsh Jain rules out layoffs after govt's RMG ban, says 'All the talent here is safe'
'We are interested in building with this talent to dig ourselves out of this hole’ said Harsh Jain, the co-founder of the co-founder of Dream Sports, the parent company of embattled fantasy sports major Dream11.
STARTUP
MC interview: “Lost 95% of revenues, 100% of profits, but remain a delusional optimist”: Dream11 founder Harsh Jain on real money gaming ban
Dream Sports CEO Harsh Jain described India's gaming law as an unexpected knockout punch but said he remains “a delusional optimist”, revealing a “two-year cash runway” which would help him retain talent.
STARTUP
Dream11 parent won't fight Indian government over real-money gaming ban, says co-founder Harsh Jain
Fantasy sports platform Dream11, which stopped paid contests last week, accounts for 95 percent of the revenues of Dream Sports and 100 percent of its profits.
STARTUP
WinZO turns to micro dramas, US expansion after India's real-money gaming ban
WinZO's US expansion comes two years after its foray into Brazil in October 2023, following the government's introduction of a 28 percent GST on real-money gaming apps.
BUSINESS
Dream11 parent forays into wealth tech after gaming ban, pilots new FD and gold investment app
Dream Money enables people to buy gold or set up a SIP on a daily or monthly basis, starting from Rs 10. It also offers fixed deposit investments from Rs 1,000.
STARTUP
Online Gaming Bill: Dream11 parent firm, Gameskraft, Zupee, MPL begin suspending its RMG offerings
The proposed gaming law explicitly prohibits the offering of online money games or RMG apps, with penalties of up to three years of imprisonment or fines of Rs 1 crore for violations.
STARTUP
Online Gaming Bill: Kavin Bharti Mittal's Rush to exit India following government’s proposed RMG ban
Rush, a casual RMG platform from Kavin Bharti Mittal's Hike, now intends to focus entirely on the United States and other global markets like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
