Hike to Down Shutters; Founder Kavin Mittal Terms It Difficult Decision

Hike to down shutters; Founder Kavin Mittal terms it difficult decision

The real money online gaming space was dealt a fatal blow after Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025

Hike to shut down fully after online money gaming ban; CEO Kavin Mittal says not worth it

First launched as a WhatsApp challenger back in 2012, Hike had since pivoted to offering games like carrom and ludo with real-money transactions.

Hike Shuts Down as India’s Real-Money Gaming Industry Collapses

As sweeping regulations hit a $23B industry, Kavin Bharti Mittal’s Hike becomes the latest startup to fold —… The post Hike Shuts Down as India’s Real-Money Gaming Industry Collapses appeared first on IMP.NEWS.

Hike, once India’s unicorn messaging app, shuts down after gaming ban

It looks like Indian messaging app Hike is in trouble. Hike, once one of India’s most valuable startups with unicorn status, has become the latest casualty of New Delhi’s recent real-money gaming ban, with the company — led by Kavin Bharti Mittal, son of Airtel founder Sunil Bharti Mittal — now shutting down. Hike was once one of India’s most promising messaging apps, launched in 2012 as a competitor to WhatsApp. Developed by Hike Pvt. Ltd. and …

Hike to shut down globally, says founder Kavin Bharti Mittal

New Delhi: Hike, once known as India’s homegrown messaging app before pivoting into gaming, is shutting down globally, founder and chief executive Kavin Bharti Mittal has announced. In a LinkedIn post titled “Closing a Chapter, Opening a New One”, Mittal said the decision followed discussions with investors and the team. He cited changing market dynamics and regulatory hurdles as central to winding down the company. “Our US business, launched ju…

Hike Shuts Down After India’s Gaming App Ban Act 2025: What Went Wrong and How it Ended Kavin Mittal’s 13-Year Journey

Hike has decided to shut down completely after more than a decade in business in India. Kavin Mittal’s homegrown alternative to WhatsApp has decided to close its business after the Indian government came up with a new law banning real-money gaming apps. To recall, Hike officially converted into a gaming platform in 2021, after shutting down its messaging app in January that same year. Hike’s founder and CEO, Kavin Mittal, announced on September …