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| India's Radha Yadav celebrates after taking a wicket during the first women’s one-dayer against Australia A at Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane on August 13, 2025. – AFP |
India Cricket Loses $43.6M Dream11
Sponsorship After Online Gambling Ban
India Cricket Ends $43.6M Dream11 Jersey Sponsorship After Online Gaming Ban. Dream11 has withdrawn from its $43.6 million jersey sponsorship deal with BCCI following India’s ban on money-based online games. BCCI seeks a new sponsor before Asia Cup 2025.
India's
Radha Yadav celebrates after taking a wicket during the first women’s one-dayer
against Australia A at Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane on August 13, 2025. –
AFPIndian cricket is seeking a new sponsor after a fantasy sports platform
withdrew from a $43.6 million deal, following a...
In a major upheaval for Indian cricket, fantasy sports giant
Dream11 has withdrawn from its $43.6 million jersey sponsorship deal
with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), citing a newly enacted
ban on real-money online games by the government. The decision leaves India’s
national team scrambling for a replacement just weeks ahead of the Asia Cup. The News International
Dream11 struck the lucrative three-year agreement with BCCI
in 2023, making its logo a fixture on the team’s jerseys across major
tournaments. But with the new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill
2025 coming into force—a law that criminalises fantasy sports and similar
money-based platforms—the continuation of that partnership became legally
untenable. ReutersThe Economic TimesWikipedia
Legal Reality Turns Sour
Under the new legislation, companies facilitating online
gambling stand to face prison terms of up to three years and steep penalties.
Recognising this, Dream11 approached BCCI, signalling its inability to continue
the arrangement without risk of legal violation. Although the sponsorship
agreement is legally binding, both parties have reportedly agreed to end it by
mutual consent. ReutersThe Independent
Racing the Clock Before Asia Cup
The timing of this split couldn’t have been worse. With the Asia
Cup set to begin on September 9, the BCCI is under immense pressure to
secure a new front-of-jersey sponsor. Reports suggest the board has already
started floating a tender for a replacement, though finalizing a deal in time
remains a challenge. The Economic Times+1NDTV Sports
Broader Fallout on Cricket’s
Commercial Ecosystem
Beyond the boardroom, the implications are hefty. Dream11
was not only a jersey sponsor but also a major promoter of fantasy
cricket—fueling digital engagement and brand value across the ecosystem. Its
exit raises questions about future funding, TV rights, and fan engagement, as
well as the sustainability of fantasy platforms that represented a booming segment
in Indian sports. Wikipedia