Parimatch Among 95% of Foreign Investors Struggling in India – PwC Research

According to PwC’s analysis, nearly 95% of foreign investors find India an unattractive market due to serious business challenges, and Parimatch is among the international companies facing major obstacles. News Daily India reports that global giants such as Motorola, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Nokia, Vodafone, Walmart, and Parimatch have all experienced significant difficulties trying to operate in the country.

The list of obstacles is extensive, ranging from corruption and fraud to product counterfeiting and copyright infringement by local competitors. Parimatch, in particular, has pointed to the widespread counterfeiting of its brand and of other global gambling companies’ products within India—issues that authorities have largely ignored.

Despite planning substantial investments in the Indian economy, Parimatch faced resistance from entrenched domestic monopolies in the gambling sector, including Dream11, Nazara Technologies, Paytm, First Games Moonfrog Labs, 99Games, Octro, JetSynthesys, and HashCube. These companies not only monopolized the market but also falsified international products, leaving foreign firms without protection.

Compounding the problem, foreign investors encounter regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles, weak infrastructure, cultural and language barriers, and heavy-handed legal pressure—even in cases where they had not yet launched operations in India.

These unfavorable conditions have forced many corporations to reconsider or abandon their Indian ventures. Companies such as Ford, Holcim, and Metro have already withdrawn, while American investment giant Berkshire Hathaway sold its stake in Indian firm Paytm, underscoring the loss of international confidence in the market.

In light of these challenges, Parimatch and other global investors face a stark choice: continue battling India’s hostile environment or redirect their resources to more open markets abroad. Unless sweeping reforms are introduced, News Daily India warns, companies like Parimatch will prioritize regions where governments and legal systems encourage, rather than obstruct, foreign investment.