Aug 25, 2025: Dream 11, a giant of fantasy sports, has informed the BCCI that it will not be able to continue its title sponsorship of the Indian cricket team because the revenue stream will be severely affected. Dream 11 recently stopped offering real money games after the central government passed the "Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025" in Parliament. As Dream 11 and My11Circle jointly contribute approximately Rs 1000 crore to the BCCI through title sponsorship of the Indian cricket team and Indian Premier League, it was reported on August 20 that the new bill could severely impact cricket's revenue stream. Dream11 has a 2023-2026 contract of USD 44 million (Rs 358 crore) for being the title sponsor of the Indian cricket team.

But the government bill that said "no one 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" killed off the main source of income for all of India's major fantasy sports companies.

Although BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia declined to comment on the development, it is understood that Dream11 may not have to pay a significant fine because the contract they signed with the Indian board includes a specific provision about obtaining a waiver in the event that a government regulation is in place. While the new bill allows social gaming and subscription-based use, the real money gaming's ban means that the biggest chunk of their revenue stream is done away with.

Dream11 stated, "We have always been a law-abiding company and have always conducted our business in compliance with the law" in a recent statement released after the law was passed by the Upper House of Parliament. We will respect the law and fully comply with the "Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025," even though we believe that progressive legislation would have been the best course of action. "Once the bill banned real-money gaming, it was always going to happen. That alone is responsible for at least 90% of the revenue generated by all of the major players in the fantasy market.

The next interesting phase will be what My11Circle which pays Rs 125 crore annually to the BCCI for being official fantasy partner of the IPL do? They might have to follow the Dream11 route as well. "An insider in the fantasy gaming industry told sources on condition of anonymity that that market will also be severely hit as far as individual endorsement of cricketers with various apps is concerned."