new delhi, Aug 25
With just over a fortnight left for the Asia Cup in the UAE, starting September 9, the Indian team could turn up at the continental competition without a jersey sponsor as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday terminated its partnership with fantasy gaming platform Dream11.
The termination was necessitated after the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The deal, worth INR 358 crore, could not have continued under the provisions of the new law, which rendered partnerships with real-money gaming companies illegal.
“BCCI and Dream 11 are discontinuing their relationship after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, was passed. We are deliberating on an alternative course of action at this stage,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said on Monday.
The BCCI and Dream Sports, parent company of Dream11 entered into a three-year jersey sponsorship deal in July 2023 replacing edtech company Byju’s as the lead sponsor of the Indian cricket team. However, it is understood that both parties mutually decided to end their association since the new government law makes the advertisement of fantasy gaming illegal.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 introduces sweeping measures to curb real-money gaming in India. The legislation enforces a complete ban on offering, operating, or facilitating online money games, regardless of whether they are based on skill, chance, or a combination of both.
It also prohibits advertising and promotion of such platforms across all forms of media, while placing a strict ban on financial transactions linked to these games. Banks, payment gateways and other financial systems will no longer be permitted to process payments associated with online money gaming.
Additionally, the Bill empowers authorities to block access to unlawful gaming platforms under provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, tightening regulatory control and enforcement.
Complying with the law, Dream11 recently issued a statement, stating, “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 the law and fully comply with the ‘Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025’.”
It is understood that Dream11 will not face any penalties, as the contract includes a clause protecting the sponsor in the event its core business is banned by the government, ensuring it is not liable to make any payments to the BCCI.
Saikia indicated that the BCCI is deliberating on an ‘alternative’ after the termination of the contract, but maintained that nothing has been finalised as yet.
Besides Dream11, another fantasy gaming platform My11Circle’s INR 625 crore deal with the BCCI is also likely to be terminated. Owned by Games24x7, MyCircle11 is an official partner of the Indian Premier League.
