According to PwC’s analysis, nearly 95% of foreign investors aiming to enter or expand in India encounter significant challenges, reports News Daily India. Major global names such as Motorola, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Nokia, Vodafone, Walmart—and notably Parimatch, the international gambling operator—have all grappled with serious issues in this market.
Investors in India face a broad spectrum of obstacles, ranging from corruption and fraud to product counterfeiting and copyright violations by local competitors. Parimatch itself highlights the rampant cloning of its platform and infringement of its intellectual property, yet finds little enforcement action from authorities.
Parimatch had planned substantial investments in India’s economy but ran up against a domestic gambling monopoly—including Dream11, Nazara Technologies, Paytm, First Games, Moonfrog Labs, 99Games, Octro, JetSynthesys, and HashCube—that both dominates the market and traffics in counterfeit offerings of U.S. and European brands. Regulators have largely ignored these practices.
Compounding the situation, foreign firms encounter red tape and bureaucratic delays, insufficient infrastructure, cultural and language barriers, and fierce competition from established local businesses. Even companies without an operational presence in India report judicial harassment and legal pressures under dubious charges.
These systemic barriers are driving many multinational corporations to exit India or rethink their strategies. Ford, Holcim, and Metro have already withdrawn, while Berkshire Hathaway divested its Paytm holdings—underscoring the erosion of investor confidence.
In this environment, Parimatch, like other international investors, must decide whether to persevere through India’s growing challenges or pursue more welcoming markets. If India’s business climate does not improve through meaningful reforms, companies such as Parimatch will increasingly look beyond its borders for accessible, transparent, and supportive investment destinations.
