Indian gaming platform WinZO has announced its entry into the United States market, just days after halting its real-money gaming operations in India following the government’s sweeping ban on online money-based games. Alongside this global expansion, the company has unveiled a new short-video content service called ZO TV, marking a strategic pivot to diversify revenue streams and retain its large user base.
WinZO, headquartered in Gurugram, currently boasts more than 250 million users and hosts over 100 gaming titles across esports and social formats in 15 different languages. Co-founder Saumya Singh Rathore shared the development on LinkedIn, noting that the new platform will bring localized short drama series to users at scale. “We are moving fast, with the energy and excitement this opportunity deserves,” she wrote.
The decision to enter the US is a significant one, given that it is the world’s largest gaming market in terms of revenue. With this move, WinZO now has a presence in three of the four biggest global gaming economies. The company had already ventured into Brazil two years ago, establishing its first foothold in overseas markets. In its press note on Sunday, August 24, WinZO added that it also intends to open the US market to Indian developers through a plug-and-launch distribution model, potentially creating new opportunities for the country’s game creators.
This international push comes on the heels of a dramatic regulatory change in India. On August 22, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 came into effect after being passed by Parliament and receiving presidential assent. The law prohibits all online money games in India, regardless of whether they involve skill or chance, and extends to offshore operators whose services are accessible in the country.
As a result, companies in the thriving real-money gaming (RMG) industry were forced to suspend paid operations almost overnight. WinZO announced that it was withdrawing its impacted services in full compliance with the law, ensuring that all dues would be cleared with service providers and that every user balance would be refunded without loss. “While expanding globally, WinZO will continue to serve its Indian audience with multiple offerings lined up through its platform, while responsibly withdrawing limited services impacted by evolving regulations,” the company said in its latest statement.
Founded in 2018, WinZO reported revenues of ₹1,055 crore for the financial year ending March 2024. Its decision to diversify into short-form content through ZO TV reflects an attempt to sustain engagement in India, while betting big on international growth in more liberalized gaming markets.
The challenges faced by WinZO mirror those confronting other leading players in India’s online gaming sector. Dream11, the country’s largest fantasy sports platform and official jersey sponsor of the Indian cricket team, also announced plans to discontinue its money-based gaming products. Reports suggest the company is preparing to launch a new financial services product under the name Dream Money, beginning with a gold loan app.
As the dust settles on India’s online gaming ban, companies like WinZO are reimagining their identities, blending entertainment formats such as micro-dramas with global expansion. For WinZO, the US launch and the debut of ZO TV mark not just a survival strategy but also a redefinition of what a gaming and entertainment platform can be in an era of regulatory change.
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