Dream11 Won’t Be Sponsor of India Cricket Team After BCCI Ends Ties Amid New Gaming Law

BCCI Confirms Dream11 Won’t Be Sponsor of India Cricket Team After Online Gaming Bill 2025 Ends Fantasy Sports Partnerships

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially confirmed that Dream11 will no longer be the sponsor of the India cricket team. This major development comes in the wake of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which was recently passed by both houses of the Indian Parliament.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia made it clear that the board will not be engaging with online fantasy sports or money gaming platforms in the future. “BCCI and Dream11 are discontinuing their relationship after the new bill was passed. BCCI will ensure not to indulge with any such organisations ahead in future,” Saikia told ANI.

The End of a Lucrative Sponsorship

Dream11 has been a leading sponsor in Indian cricket, with its association extending to both the national team and the Indian Premier League (IPL). Alongside My11Circle, these fantasy sports giants collectively contributed close to ₹1,000 crore to the BCCI through sponsorship deals.

In fact, Dream11 signed a USD 44 million (₹358 crore) contract for 2023–2026 as Team India’s title sponsor, making it one of the biggest sponsorship deals in Indian sports. However, with the passing of the new legislation, the partnership has come to an abrupt halt, leaving a major sponsorship vacuum for BCCI to fill.

The Impact of the Online Gaming Bill

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 has essentially prohibited fantasy sports companies from operating sponsorships and advertisements in India. The law clearly states:

“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.”

This means fantasy sports companies, which thrived by tying up with cricket teams and players, can no longer engage in such promotional activities. The decision has effectively cut off one of their biggest marketing channels.

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Dream11’s Response to the Law

Soon after the bill was passed, Dream11 issued an official statement reiterating its compliance with Indian laws. The company emphasized that it has always conducted its business legally and transparently.

“While we believe that progressive law would have been the way forward, we will respect the law and fully comply with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025,” Dream11 said.

This marks a significant setback for the fantasy sports industry, which has grown exponentially in India over the past decade. With millions of active users, platforms like Dream11 had become household names, thanks in large part to cricket sponsorships.

Blow to Individual Endorsements

It’s not just BCCI that will feel the pinch. Many Indian cricketers, including top stars, were brand ambassadors for fantasy sports apps. These endorsements are also expected to take a big hit, as the new legislation bars promotions of online money gaming.

This could impact the personal earnings of players who had lucrative deals with platforms like Dream11 and My11Circle. Going forward, such endorsements are unlikely to continue, given the restrictions on advertising.

What This Means for BCCI and Indian Cricket

For the BCCI, this sudden change creates a sponsorship gap worth hundreds of crores. The board will now have to look towards alternative sponsors from industries such as technology, FMCG, banking, or e-commerce to make up for the loss.

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Despite this, the board remains firm in its stance of complying with the law. As Devajit Saikia stressed, the BCCI does not plan to engage with online money gaming companies in the future.

Conclusion

The end of the Dream11-BCCI partnership marks the close of an era where fantasy sports companies heavily influenced cricket sponsorships in India. With the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 reshaping the industry, cricket sponsorship is set to see a major transformation. While Dream11 won’t be the sponsor of India cricket anymore, the BCCI will now seek new avenues to ensure the financial strength of Indian cricket remains unaffected.

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