• Source:JND
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Hike, once a promising Indian challenger to WhatsApp and later a real-money gaming (RMG) platform, is shutting down operations following the Indian government’s blanket ban on online money games under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.

Kavin Bharti Mittal, founder of Hike and son of Airtel chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, confirmed the closure in a blog post, citing the regulatory crackdown as the final straw.

“We could raise the capital, but the real question is: is it worth it? For the first time in 13 years, my answer is no,” Mittal wrote.

Hike Messenger to Hike Gaming

- Hike was launched as a messaging app targeted at young users in 2012 and quickly attained 40 million monthly active users, becoming India's 35th most beloved consumer brand.

- Hike secured unicorn status in 2016 after receiving backing from Tiger Global, SoftBank, and Tencent with an $1.4B valuation.

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- Once it shut down its messenger in 2021, the company pivoted towards Rush, an online real-money gaming app offering carrom, ludo and other casual games for real money play.

- Rush generated over $500M in gross revenue with more than 10 million users in four years.

Why the Shutdown?

The 2025 Online Gaming Act prohibits all real-money skill and chance-based real-money games due to addiction risks and national security considerations; exceptions include Esports competitions and subscription-based social games.

As a result, industry leaders including Dream11, Winzo, and Zupee have either exited RMG or pivoted to new models. While Hike’s US gaming business showed early traction, Mittal said global scaling would require a full reset—not worth the cost or effort.

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Lessons & What’s Next

Reflecting on Hike’s 13-year journey, Mittal advised entrepreneurs to:

- Avoid winner-take-all markets dominated by global giants.

- Build for upcoming tech cycles instead of reactive pivots.

- Seek regulatory clarity early to avoid being blindsided.

Looking ahead, Mittal believes AI and energy breakthroughs will define the next big wave of startups, while gaming may eventually move toward a “Nation-type model” powered by Web3—though crypto regulation remains uncertain.

“RMG was never the destination,” he admitted. “In hindsight, starting in India locked us into the model and regulatory headwinds.”