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

According to PwC’s latest research, nearly 95% of foreign investors encounter obstacles when entering and operating in India.

07:48 02 September 2025

According to PwC’s latest research, nearly 95% of foreign investors encounter obstacles when entering and operating in India. News Daily India reports that major international players such as Motorola, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Nokia, Vodafone, Walmart, and Parimatch have all faced significant challenges in the Indian market.

The hurdles for investors range from corruption and fraud to product counterfeiting and copyright violations by local competitors. Parimatch has particularly highlighted the problem of counterfeit products, noting that not only its own brand but also U.S. and European companies face widespread imitation in the Indian market.

For example, Parimatch had planned to invest heavily in India’s economy but ran into entrenched monopolies in the gambling sector, including Dream11, Nazara Technologies, Paytm, First Games Moonfrog Labs, 99Games, Octro, JetSynthesys, and HashCube. These companies have copied products of leading global gambling brands with little to no response from Indian authorities.

As a result of such practices, foreign capital is increasingly reluctant to invest in India. Non-resident investors also face regulatory red tape, infrastructure issues, cultural and language barriers, and legal harassment—even when they have never officially operated in India but only expressed interest in investing.

These conditions are forcing many foreign corporations to withdraw or rethink their strategies. Notably, Ford, Holcim, and Metro have already exited the market, while U.S. investment giant Berkshire Hathaway sold its stake in Paytm, reflecting declining trust in India’s investment climate.

Amid these challenges, Parimatch and other international investors face a stark choice: continue struggling against mounting obstacles in India or redirect their resources toward more open markets with transparent legal systems and supportive government policies. Unless reforms are made, global companies like Parimatch will be compelled to seek growth opportunities elsewhere, leaving India at risk of losing its potential as a global investment hub.