The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has suffered a major setback! Fantasy gaming company Dream11 has left the title sponsorship of the Indian cricket team after the passing of the ‘Online Gaming Bill 2025’.
This bill has completely banned real money gaming and its advertisements, which has had a strong impact on the earnings of companies like Dream11.
How many crores will BCCI lose?
In 2023, Dream11 signed a three-year contract with BCCI worth US$44 million i.e. about Rs 358 crore. This deal ascendancy Dream11’s logo stopped appearing on the Indian team’s jersey.
Now the BCCI will have to find a new sponsor, that too when the Asia Cup 2025 is just a few days away, which is starting on September 9.
Game-Changer Law
This new law has shaken up the fantasy sports industry. Dream11 said in its statement,
“We have always been a law-abiding company and have always conducted our business in compliance with the law. While we believe that progressive law would have been the way forward, we will respect and fully comply with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025.”
That is, the company made it clear that it will now focus only on free-to-play games. But, real money games, which account for 90% of their earnings, are now closed.
BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia also made it clear,
“BCCI and Dream11 are discontinuing their relationship after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, was passed. BCCI will ensure not to indulge with any such organizations ahead in future.”
That is, BCCI will no longer deal with such companies.
Even before the passing of this bill, Dream11 and another company My11Circle were together giving sponsorship of about Rs 1000 crore to BCCI.
My11Circle has a contract of Rs 625 crore for IPL till 2028. But now its future is also uncertain.
Dream11’s parent company Dream Sports spent Rs 2,964 crore on advertisements in 2023. According to the Economic Times report, fantasy sports companies spend more than Rs 5,000 crore on marketing every year.
This ban will affect not only BCCI, but also the personal endorsement deals of many cricketers.
BCCI is now looking for a new sponsor, but time is short. If a new sponsor is not found soon, the Indian team may play in the Asia Cup without a title sponsor.
