Synopsis
Indian gaming platform Winzo has expanded into the United States, marking its entry into a mature mobile gaming market. This move follows Winzo’s previous expansion into Brazil and comes as India’s new online gaming bill restricts real money gaming. Winzo aims to leverage its user base and portfolio of games to gain traction in the US.
Company ImagesIndian gaming platform Winzo has entered the United States, marking its first expansion into the market as it looks to grow its global footprint.
The move comes at a time when India’s new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act has imposed a blanket ban on real-money gaming, forcing several platforms to shut down offerings involving actual monetary transactions.
Winzo previously forayed into the Brazilian market in 2023, investing $25 million to diversify beyond India. While India is the largest market globally in terms of users, it contributes less than 1% to the global gaming industry, the company said.
By entering the US, Winzo said that Indian-developed games and its distribution model can find traction in one of the mature markets for mobile gaming. The Gurugram-headquartered company said it has 250 million users and a portfolio of over 100 competitive and social games.
Alongside the US launch, Winzo has rolled out a short-video feature called ZO TV, positioning it against global platforms that increasingly blend gaming with content formats.
“The launch of Winzo in the United States is a proud milestone for us and for India’s digital entertainment ecosystem. Our vision has always been to empower Indian game developers to reach global audiences. Entering the US, the world’s largest and most influential gaming market, is a decisive step towards that mission,” Saumya Singh Rathore and Paavan Nanda, cofounders of WinZO, said in a joint statement.
For the financial year ended March 2024, Winzo reported a 70% rise in operating revenue to Rs 1,055.2 crore.
Meanwhile, the new online gaming law has prompted several firms to shut down their real money operations. Dream11 said it has discontinued money-based games. Gurugram-based Zupee announced it is discontinuing paid games in line with the new law. Peak XV Partners-backed Probo also said it will shut down its real money offerings, while Bengaluru-based Mobile Premier League confirmed it is suspending all money-based games in India.
Also Read: Dream11, My11Circle, other real money gaming firms begin discontinuing offerings
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