Dream11 ends India national cricket team sponsorship as real-money gaming ban takes effect

Fantasy sports platform Dream11 has ended its sponsorship of India’s national cricket team following the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that company executives informed CEO Hemang Amin they would no longer serve as the team’s sponsor ahead of the Asia Cup.

“Dream11 visited the BCCI office and informed CEO Hemang Amin that they won’t be able to continue… As a result, they won’t be the team’s sponsors for the Asia Cup. The BCCI will float a new tender soon,” a senior official told the Indian Express.

The move comes less than a year after Dream11 replaced Byju’s as lead sponsor in a contract valued at Rs3.58 billion ($45 million).

New restrictions on real-money games

The bill prohibits online games involving monetary stakes, advertising for such services, and payment processing. Violators could face fines of up to Rs10 million ($114,000) and prison sentences of up to three years. Celebrities endorsing these products may also be subject to penalties.

Lawmakers said the measure is intended to address money laundering, tax evasion, and reported links to terrorism financing. Federal IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, introducing the bill, said it sought to curb “a big evil that is creeping into society,” also citing suicides tied to financial losses.

Industry impact

India’s real-money gaming industry was valued at $3.8 billion in 2024, according to venture capital firm Lumika, and was projected to surpass $9 billion by 2029. Industry associations representing companies such as Dream11, MPL, and Gameskraft warned the ban could force more than 400 businesses to close and threaten over 200,000 jobs.

Harsh Jain, co-founder and CEO of Dream Sports, said the company would comply fully. “When our business model was constitutionally protected, we ran it. Now that the law has changed, we’ve complied immediately – even before the ban was formally signed," Jain stated. "And I can say clearly: Dream11 will not challenge this law in court.”  

He said 95% of the company’s revenue had “disappeared overnight,” but no layoffs were planned among its 500 staff. Instead, employees will be redirected to new ventures in sports media, merchandising, and fan engagement, with reductions in marketing spending.

International comparisons

India’s approach differs from that of other major markets such as the UK and the US. Britain has not banned online gambling but introduced stake limits of £5 ($6.75) per spin for adults and £2 ($2.70) for those aged 18 to 24 on online slot machines. The sector generated £6.9 billion ($9.3 billion) between April 2023 and March 2024, according to the UK Gambling Commission.

The US does not impose a nationwide ban. States such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania allow licensed online casinos, while Utah and Hawaii maintain prohibitions on all forms of gambling. A majority of states allow sports betting. Enforcement efforts largely focus on payment restrictions for unlicensed operators.

With Dream11’s exit, BCCI is preparing to seek a new sponsor ahead of the Asia Cup in September. Analysts caution that restrictions could weaken regulated domestic firms while driving players toward offshore operators.