The BCCI has been informed by fantasy sports giants Dream 11 that it will not be able to continue sponsoring the Indian cricket team because the revenue stream will be severely impacted. Dream 11 recently closed its real money games after the central government passed the ‘Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025’ in both Houses of Parliament.
The new bill is expected to have a significant negative impact on Indian cricket’s revenue stream because Dream 11 and My11Circle together give the BCCI approximately Rs 1000 crore through the sponsorship of the Indian cricket team and the IPL.
Dream11 is the title sponsor of the Indian cricket team and has a contract worth US$44 million (about Rs 358 crore) for 2023–2026.
However, after the government bill was passed stating that “no person shall offer any, aid, abet, induce, indulge, engage in offering online money gaming services nor shall involve in any advertisement which directly or indirectly promotes any person to play any online money game”, it was a fatal blow to the primary source of income for all of India’s biggest fantasy sports businesses.
Although BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia chose not to comment on the situation, it is believed that Dream11 may avoid paying a significant fine because the agreement with the Indian board includes a clause requiring a waiver in the event that a government legislation is in effect.
Dream11 is also the Indian Super League football tournament’s official fantasy partner.
The restriction on real money gambling implies that the largest portion of their revenue stream is eliminated, even though the new bill permits social gaming and subscription-based use.
In a recent statement issued after the law was passed in the Upper House of Parliament, Dream 11 stated: “We have always been a law abiding company and have always conducted our business in compliance with the law. While we believe that progressive law would have been the way forward, we will respect the law and fully comply with ‘Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025’.
“The writing was always on the cards once the real money gaming was banned in the bill. That itself accounts for at least 90 percent of the revenue of all major players in the fantasy market. The next interesting phase will be what My11Circle which pays Rs 125 crore annually to BCCI for being official fantasy partner of IPL do? They might also have to go the Dream11 way. As far as individual endorsement of cricketers with various apps are concerned, that market will also be severely hit,” a fantasy gaming industry insider told PTI.
