Gameskraft halts operations of online poker platform Pocket52
Gameskraft, a major player in India’s skill-gaming sector, is halting operations of its online poker platform Pocket52 starting 30 May 2025 as it reassesses long-term plans.
The company stated that this pause is part of a broader plan to reassess and reimagine its long-term strategy for poker. It also clarified that the move will not affect existing staff.
Player deposits to close 22 May
Gameskraft will stop accepting deposits via the ‘Add Cash’ feature on Pocket52 from 22 May. Gameplay will cease on 30 May, but the app will remain accessible to players until July. Players will be able to withdraw their balances through standard processes, which will be communicated directly to users, the company confirmed.
Legal challenges and tax uncertainty loom
The move comes at a time when the real-money gaming ecosystem is facing legal uncertainty, with Gameskraft and over 50 other companies currently involved in a major legal battle over retrospective Goods and Services Tax (GST) demands totalling more than ₹1.5 lakh crore. The Supreme Court of India put a stay on these show-cause notices in January 2025, and the case is currently under hearing.
While there is speculation that the suspension of Pocket52 may be linked to the ongoing 28 percent GST case, Gameskraft, in an exclusive conversation with 8gfg.shop, clarified that the decision is unrelated to the GST matter.
Pocket52 needed “deeper momentum”
Despite encouraging engagement on Pocket52, noted that a deeper push and focused strategy are required to scale the platform and provide a distinct experience for users.
“We remain committed to the Poker ecosystem in India. This pause allows us to reimagine what a best-in-class Poker platform should look like, one that delivers excellence, innovation, and sustainable impact,” the company said in an official statement.
Rising consolidation in poker market
Gameskraft’s move comes amid a wave of consolidation in India’s online poker space. In February, Delta Corp sold its skill gaming unit, Deltatech Gaming, to Head Digital Works, the parent company of A23, in a cash-and-stock deal worth around ₹491 crore.
In another major development, Nazara Technologies acquired a 47.7 percent stake in PokerBaazi, one of India’s leading poker platforms. Other active players in the online poker space include Games24x7’s PokerCircle, Mobile Premier League (MPL), and Spartan Poker, which was acquired by OneVerse in February 2024.
Gameskraft’s reshuffle of gaming portfolio
Gameskraft operates several skill-based platforms, including Rummyculture and the social rummy app Playship. It previously launched rummy and ludo games from its super app Gamezy as standalone products—RummyPrime and Ludo Culture.
However, Ludo Culture was shut down in September 2024, and the company had already exited the fantasy sports market in September 2023.
