Real-Money Gaming Ban: Kavin Bharti Mittal’s Rush app to exit Indian market

Following the government's prohibition on real-money gambling (RMG), Bharti Airtel scion Kavin Bharti Mittal has made the decision to remove his casual gaming platform Rush from India. The action follows regulatory uncertainty, which includes a complete prohibition on money-based gaming and a sharp hike in the GST slab to 40%.

Mittal characterized the government's decision as a significant setback, contending that the industry would have avoided uncertainty and billions of dollars in squandered expenditures if there had been earlier clarification. He pointed out that his decision to shut down operations in India was further influenced by the country's unwillingness to adopt cryptocurrencies, which had already indicated a reluctance toward burgeoning digital economies.

Rush will now shift its focus to global markets, particularly the US, where new Web3 prospects and regulatory clarity are becoming more popular. As proof of a more encouraging climate, Mittal cited the passing of the Genius Act for stablecoins and the impending Clarity Act for tokens. He pointed out that, in comparison to India, Rush has experienced stronger ad-spend returns and ten times higher average income per user worldwide.

The platform has already been getting ready for its global launch after growing to over $500 million in gross sales in India in just four years. Reports state that since January, a large portion of the team has been focused on the US opportunity. About 100 people work at Rush across Singapore, Dubai, the US, and India.

In addition to RMG, Mittal thinks the US has potential in multibillion-dollar industries like virtual goods and advertising, where consumer spending is far larger than in India.

Rush's departure is indicative of a larger industry upheaval, as it comes after similar suspensions from Dream Sports, Gameskraft, Mobile Premier League (MPL), and Zupee.