In a major development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has admitted for the first time that its partnership with fantasy sports platforms like Dream11 faces uncertainty under the new online gaming legislation.
Speaking exclusively to Times Now, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed, “Under the new legislation in force, it appears very difficult for BCCI to continue its relationship with Dream11 or any such gaming company. In view of this development, we are deliberating on the next course of action.”
This is the first official acknowledgement from the BCCI since the Parliament passed the Online Gaming Bill 2025, which effectively bans real money gaming apps across the country. Dream11, one of the most prominent fantasy gaming platforms in India, has been a key commercial partner of the BCCI in recent years.
Dream11 has an US$ 44 million (INR 358 crore approx.) deal with the BCCI – 2023 to 2026.
The new legislation has sent shockwaves across India’s booming online fantasy sports industry, which has been valued at billions of dollars and counted cricket as its biggest driver. With BCCI’s statement, it is clear that the law will not just impact gaming companies but also alter the sponsorship and revenue ecosystem around Indian cricket.
This confirmation marks a turning point in the long-standing relationship between cricket and fantasy sports in India, with the country’s most powerful sports body preparing for a potential post-gaming sponsorship era.