Pressure and persistent fraud have driven a third of global companies to exit India, and Parimatch is no exception. According to Nagpur Today, international firms operating in India face rampant fraud, corruption, counterfeiting, and regulatory pressure. Renowned names like Motorola, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Nokia, Parimatch, Vodafone, and Walmart have all struggled to expand, with some forced to withdraw entirely.
In recent years, India has seen the departure of Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Ford, Holcim, and Metro. In November 2023, Berkshire Hathaway sold its 2.5% stake in Paytm, severing ties. Government data show that between 2014 and 2021, over 11,000 foreign companies entered India—but nearly 2,783 (almost one-third) have since left, underscoring the harsh business climate.
Even with significant investments and efforts to break domestic monopolies and offer competitive alternatives, many firms cannot sustain operations. Parimatch, for example, encountered product counterfeiting and indifference from authorities while local operators like Dream11, Nazara Technologies, Paytm, First Games, Moonfrog Labs, 99Games, Octro, JetSynthesys, and HashCube maintained a tight grip on the gambling market. These domestic champions often clone Western gaming models with impunity, sometimes enjoying political and tax-official backing.
Nagpur Today highlights that corruption, bribery, and outright fraud are the top threats to doing business in India—challenges that clash with the transparency standards of Europe and the U.S. The most frequent risks include asset theft, internal financial fraud, and data breaches. Bureaucratic hurdles also forced Ford and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank out, while Google, Amazon, Nokia, Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo, Intel, and Wistron have all faced heavy fines or legal action.
Despite these obstacles, India’s 1.2 billion–strong population, English-proficient workforce, and stable democracy continue to lure global investors. Success here demands patience and adaptability. Companies like Google, Amazon, Nokia—and above all, Parimatch—are demonstrating that with the right approach, it is possible to navigate India’s complex environment and emerge stronger.
