India has always been the global hub of cricket, but the recent Online Money Gaming Bill 2025 passed on 20th August has completely changed the sports ecosystem. Under this new law, all forms of real money gaming (RMG) — including fantasy cricket, rummy, ludo, and poker — are now banned in India.
This move directly affects the fantasy cricket industry, which had become a multi-billion-dollar market. Dream11, the biggest name in fantasy sports, started in 2008 and adopted the RMG model in 2013. It quickly grew into a giant with millions of users, driving cricket engagement across India and even influencing global cricket viewership.
Dream11 and the End of Fantasy Cricket in India
Dream11 co-founder Harsh Jain, in an interview with Moneycontrol, stated that the company would not challenge the new bill in court. He explained that if the Indian government no longer supports this business model, then companies must abide by the law. Following this, Dream11 also stepped down from being the title sponsor of Team India’s jersey.
The ban is expected to hit not only Dream11 but also other businesses tied to cricket such as broadcasting platforms (Hotstar, Sony LIV, FanCode), as fantasy cricket significantly boosted viewership and fan engagement.
Impact on Cricket and Other Sports
The ban on fantasy gaming in India is expected to:
- Reduce cricket viewership, especially for bilateral series and smaller tournaments.
- Affect domestic leagues and sponsorships that relied heavily on fantasy platforms for revenue.
- Slow down the growth of women’s cricket, which was steadily gaining popularity.
- Impact other Indian sports like the Indian Super League (football) and Pro Kabaddi League, which also depended on fantasy sports for engagement.
Government’s Stand on the Ban
The government has defended the decision as a step toward society’s welfare, citing addiction and financial risks associated with money gaming. Instead, it plans to encourage eSports and casual/social gaming as safer alternatives.
What Lies Ahead for Cricket?
While the government aims to protect society, industry experts believe that banning fantasy cricket in India instead of regulating it may cause long-term harm to the cricket ecosystem. Smaller leagues could collapse without fantasy sponsorships, and overall fan engagement might drop.
For now, one thing is clear: the fantasy cricket ban is not just the end of an industry but could also reshape the future of cricket in India and beyond.
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