NEW DELHI: In a significant shift in India’s sports sponsorship landscape, fantasy sports giant Dream11 is set to terminate its partnership with the Indian cricket team, a development confirmed by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia on Monday. The decision comes on the heels of the newly enacted Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which has put a complete stop on online money gaming, including those based on skill.
The move marks an abrupt end to the three-year contract signed in 2023, which saw Dream11 take over as the lead sponsor from Byju’s. With the new legislation, which President Droupadi Murmu approved on Friday, August 23, explicitly banning the offering or facilitating of online money games, the relationship became untenable. “The BCCI and Dream11 are discontinuing their relationship following the Online Gaming Bill. Moving forward, the BCCI will avoid engagement with such organisations,” Saikia told ANI, highlighting the board’s commitment to abide by the law of the land.
This unexpected turn of events has left the BCCI in a scramble to find a new sponsor. The timing could not be worse, as the Indian team is scheduled to head to the United Arab Emirates for the Asia Cup, which is just around the corner on September 9. The Bill, which passed both houses of Parliament last week, not only outlaws online money games but also seeks to regulate associated advertisements and financial transactions, marking a decisive moment in India’s regulatory framework for online gaming. The onus is now on the BCCI to secure a new partner who aligns with the country’s updated legal and ethical guidelines before the players take to the field in the Asia Cup.
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