India's largest fantasy sports platform, Dream11, is stepping away from its ₹358 crore ($41 million) jersey sponsorship with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), following the recent passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which bans all real-money gaming platforms.
The financial blow from the new legislation has been swift: Dream Sports, Dream11’s parent company, confirmed that nearly 95% of its revenue and all profits have evaporated overnight due to the ban. CEO Harsh Jain stated there will be no legal challenge to the legislation, despite the massive financial impact.
The BCCI has already started scouting for a new sponsor. With the Asia Cup starting September 9, the national team tout remains vacant unless a quick solution is found. “We will not do anything that’s not allowed by law,” said BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, highlighting a cautious approach.
Meanwhile, Dream11 has completely shut down its real-money contests and fully transitioned into a free-to-play social gaming platform. The company reassured its user base that all wallet balances are secure and available for withdrawal
This dramatic pivot has halted revenue streams that previously helped fuel India’s fantasy gaming boom—and provided substantial financial backing to cricket. Industry experts warn that the ban spells trouble not only for gaming startups but also for domestic sports financing models that relied heavily on such platforms
