KEY POINTS
- Dream11 ends its $44 million crore sponsorship deal with BCCI
- The new law prohibits companies from offering or advertising money-based gaming
- With 90% of fantasy gaming revenue hit, other platforms also suffer financial blows
NEW DELHI: Indian cricket faces a major sponsorship setback after fantasy sports giant Dream11 withdrew as Team India’s lead sponsor, the company said in a statement.
The move follows the passage of the Online Gaming Bill 2025, which bans all real-money gaming in the country, crippling Dream11’s core business model.
Dream11’s sponsorship deal — worth a staggering $44 million (₹358 crore) for 2023–2026 — is now at risk, with the company stating that the legislation has crippled its primary revenue stream, which came from real money fantasy sports contests.
Under the new law, companies are barred from promoting or engaging in any form of online money gaming or advertisements that indirectly encourage such activities.
In a statement, Dream11 said it had “always complied with the law” and would continue to do so, even though it had hoped for more progressive regulations.
See you in our second innings. pic.twitter.com/oEfBNiC4dd
— Dream11 (@Dream11) August 22, 2025
The BCCI, for its part, has not officially commented. However, it’s understood that the sponsorship contract contains a force majeure-style clause, allowing for a waiver or exit in case of government-imposed restrictions – possibly sparing Dream11 from financial penalties.
With Dream11 stepping back, eyes are now on My11Circle, the IPL’s official fantasy partner that pays ₹125 crore annually to the BCCI.
Industry insiders suggest that the entire fantasy gaming sector is facing a crisis, as nearly 90% of its revenue was based on real-money contests – a format now outlawed.
“The writing was on the wall,” said one industry source. “Without real money games, fantasy platforms lose their biggest hook. Even cricketer endorsements for such apps will now face massive cuts.”
