WinZO
WinZO is an India-based vernacular mobile gaming platform that aggregated 100+ skill-based games across 12+ Indian languages for tier-2/3/4 city consumers. It monetized via rake commissions on real-money contests reaching 250M+ claimed users, but ceased RMG operations after India's August 2025 PROG Act ban and faces ED enforcement action.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What WinZO does
WinZO, founded in 2018 and operated by The TickTock Skill Games Pvt Ltd, is an India-based mobile social gaming platform that delivers vernacular, multi-language skill-based games targeted at tier-2, tier-3, and tier-4 city consumers. Its platform aggregated 100+ games supporting 12+ Indian languages and claimed a user base exceeding 25 crore (250 million) at peak. Core technology included AI/algorithm-driven gameplay matching and proprietary bot systems (internally termed 'EP', 'PPP', and 'Persona') that the Enforcement Directorate has alleged were used to embed bots against real users to extract player losses.
The company monetized primarily through rake commissions on real-money gaming (RMG) contests, generating gross gaming yield that ED filings place at approximately ₹3,522 crore between FY 2021-22 and FY 2025-26. Distribution was via Google Play, Apple App Store, and open-web HTML5 (to bypass app store commissions), alongside international subsidiaries in the US and Singapore operating in Brazil, Germany, and the US. WinZO raised $115M+ in venture funding, including a $65M Series C led by Griffin Gaming Partners in July 2021, and acquired a majority stake in Gurugram-based Upskillz Games in June 2022.
The business has been effectively dismantled by regulatory action. India's Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (enacted August 2025) banned real-money gaming, terminating WinZO's core revenue stream. The Enforcement Directorate subsequently raided offices in November 2025, arrested co-founders Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore under PMLA, froze/seized assets exceeding ₹1,194 crore, and filed a January 2026 chargesheet alleging money laundering and algorithmic manipulation. The platform's website is under maintenance, ~130 employees have gone unpaid since January 2025, and the company is attempting defensive pivots into short dramas (ZO Play), digital gold (ZO Gold), and stockbroking under severe capital constraints.
WinZO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WinZO
- Legal name
- WinZO
- Website
- https://winzogames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- WinZO is an India-based vernacular mobile gaming platform that aggregated 100+ skill-based games across 12+ Indian languages for tier-2/3/4 city consumers. It monetized via rake commissions on real-money contests reaching 250M+ claimed users, but ceased RMG operations after India's August 2025 PROG Act ban and faces ED enforcement action.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WinZO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Real-Money Gaming Platform
- NAICS
- Gambling Industries (7132), Other Gambling Industries (713290)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sweepstakes / Social Casinos (Virtual Currency, Prize-Based) (MPAEABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Game Aggregation, Content Distribution & RGS (Remote Game Servers) (MPAEAKAG)
Keywords
Where WinZO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
WinZO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Real-Money Gaming (Rake Commission): WinZO generated revenue through rake commission on player stakes in real-money gaming contests. The ED alleged proceeds of crime totalling approximately Rs 3,522 crore between FY21-22 and FY25-26 were generated through these operations, with rake commission forming the primary revenue stream.
- Short Dramas (ZO Play): WinZO attempted to pivot to short drama content (ZO Play) as an alternative revenue stream following the RMG ban in August 2025.
- Digital Gold (ZO Gold): WinZO explored digital gold sales (ZO Gold) as a new revenue stream amid capital constraints following the RMG ban.
- Stockbroking: WinZO attempted to enter the stockbroking business as part of its post-RMG pivot strategy, competing against well-established players in a saturated market.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Real-money gaming entry fees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
WinZO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WinZO operates a mobile-first, vernacular social gaming platform offering 100+ skill-based casual games in 12+ Indian languages, enabling users to participate in multiplayer contests and tournaments with real monetary stakes. The platform earned revenue primarily through rake commission on player stakes in real-money contests, targeting tier-2, tier-3, and tier-4 city mobile gamers in India. Following India's 2025 RMG ban, WinZO is pivoting to short dramas (ZO Play), digital gold (ZO Gold), and stockbroking offerings.
Product overview
WinZO operates as a unified entertainment platform combining social gaming, short-form video content, and digital financial services. The core product is WinZO Games, a vernacular-language social gaming platform offering multiplayer casual games, tournaments, and real-money gaming. Adjacent to this, ZO Play delivers short-dramas content and ZO Gold provides digital gold trading capabilities, creating an integrated entertainment ecosystem with multiple engagement verticals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ZO Play: Short dramas platform as part of WinZO's pivot post-RMG ban
- ZO Gold
Products and services
- WinZO Games
- ZO Play
- ZO Gold
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 25 crore (250+ million) claimed users before regulatory shutdown
Companies that use WinZO
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
WinZO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
WinZO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- IEIC (India Entertainment & Innovation Council)minorWinZO partnered with IEIC and Business Finland to boost India-Finland gaming synergies and build export-ready 'Made in India' gaming content.
- Business FinlandminorWinZO partnered with IEIC and Business Finland to boost India-Finland gaming synergies and build export-ready 'Made in India' gaming content.
- SEPC (Services Export Promotion Council)coreSEPC signed a three-year MoU with WinZO to promote the export of Indian gaming technology and intellectual property globally. The partnership aimed to position India as a major exporter in the $300 billion global gaming market, showcasing Indian developers at international events starting with Gamescom in Germany.
- AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreWinZO scaled its Global Center of Excellence (GCoE) with AWS to help game studios across India build and scale games using generative AI. The initiative leveraged AWS technologies including Amazon Bedrock and Amazon SageMaker to accelerate content development cycles by up to 25% and personalize gaming experiences. WinZO offered free training programs and cloud credits to upskill local gaming talent.
- DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade)coreDPIIT signed a two-year MoU with WinZO to accelerate India's interactive entertainment sector by fostering innovation, creating skilled talent, and scaling startups to compete globally. The partnership targeted over 2,000 startups, innovators, and students through a Center of Excellence and expansion of WinZO's Tech Triumph Program, aligning with PM Modi's Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
- Upskillz GamesminorWinZO acquired a majority stake in Gurugram-based casual game studio Upskillz Games through an all-cash deal. The acquisition aimed to integrate Upskillz's Blockchain and Web3 offerings into WinZO's portfolio and build on WinZO's broader strategy of investing in game development studios.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WinZO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Paytm First Games: Real-money fantasy sports and gaming platform operated by One97 Communications. Directly comparable in India's RMG ecosystem with mass-market user base and regulatory exposure.
- PokerBaazi: India's leading online poker platform, operated by Mojo Games. Direct peer in real-money skill gaming with comparable regulatory exposure under India's evolving gaming laws.
- A23 (formerly Adda52): Head Digital Works-operated online poker and rummy platform. Comparable in offering real-money skill gaming in India and facing similar regulatory headwinds under the PROG Act.
- Dream11 (Dream Sports): India's largest fantasy sports and gaming platform. Direct peer in real-money skill gaming, similarly impacted by India's PROG Act 2025, with comparable vernacular and tier-2/3/4 market reach.
- Mobile Premier League (MPL): Mobile e-sports and real-money gaming platform operating across multiple game categories in India. Directly comparable to WinZO in offering skill-based contests with monetary stakes and vernacular content.
- Games24x7: India-based real-money gaming operator (My11Circle, RummyCircle). Direct competitor in India's RMG ecosystem, similarly affected by PROG Act 2025, with overlapping tier-2/3/4 user base.
- Gameskraft: Indian online rummy and gaming platform that was part of the ED's broader real-money gaming investigation. Closely comparable to WinZO in facing PMLA action and asset freezes under the same enforcement sweep.
- Zupee: Indian real-money gaming platform focused on quiz and trivia-based skill games. Direct peer in vernacular RMG targeting mass-market India, with similar post-PROG Act pivot challenges.
Broad incumbents
- Nazara Technologies: India's only publicly listed gaming company with a diversified portfolio including skill gaming, eSports, and ad-tech. Broad incumbent operating in the same space as WinZO but with a more diversified, publicly-traded business model less dependent on real-money gaming.
Emerging players
- Game.tv (Games2win): Mobile gaming tournament and community platform with some real-money elements. Emerging player in India's mobile e-sports space, comparable to WinZO's tournament-format gaming model though with different monetization mechanics.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WinZO social profiles
Digital presenceWinZO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WinZO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
WinZO subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
WinZO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WinZO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WinZO
What does WinZO do?
WinZO operates a mobile-first, vernacular social gaming platform offering 100+ skill-based casual games in 12+ Indian languages, enabling users to participate in multiplayer contests and tournaments with real monetary stakes. The platform earned revenue primarily through rake commission on player stakes in real-money contests, targeting tier-2, tier-3, and tier-4 city mobile gamers in India. Following India's 2025 RMG ban, WinZO is pivoting to short dramas (ZO Play), digital gold (ZO Gold), and stockbroking offerings.
Is WinZO a public or private company?
WinZO is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was WinZO founded?
WinZO was founded in 2018. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is WinZO based?
WinZO is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does WinZO make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Real-Money Gaming (Rake Commission) is the primary driver. The others are short Dramas (ZO Play), digital Gold (ZO Gold) and stockbroking.
Who are WinZO's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Paytm First Games, PokerBaazi, A23 (formerly Adda52), Dream11 (Dream Sports), Mobile Premier League (MPL), Games24x7, Gameskraft and Zupee. Nazara Technologies is listed as a broad incumbent. Game.tv (Games2win) is listed as an emerging player.
Does WinZO have an API?
No public API is recorded for WinZO.
What industry is WinZO in?
WinZO's product category is Mobile Real-Money Gaming Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAEABAE, Sweepstakes / Social Casinos (Virtual Currency, Prize-Based), with a secondary code of MPAEAKAG, Game Aggregation, Content Distribution & RGS (Remote Game Servers). Its NAICS code is 7132.