BCCI ends ₹358 crore Dream11 sponsorship after online gaming ban

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially terminated its association with fantasy sports platform Dream11 after the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The law, which imposes a complete ban on fantasy and real-money gaming platforms, led to the immediate withdrawal of Dream11 as Team India’s jersey sponsor. With less than two weeks left for the Asia Cup in the UAE, the Indian team currently has no title sponsor.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the decision, stating, “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 organisations in future.” Another board official confirmed that the BCCI is preparing to float a fresh tender to invite new sponsorship bids.

Dream11, founded 18 years ago and now valued at around $8 billion, replaced Byju’s as India’s lead sponsor in July 2023. The deal was worth ₹358 crore for a three-year period and was scheduled to run until 2026. Dream11 has been a key player in Indian cricket sponsorship, previously acting as the title sponsor of the Indian Premier League in 2020 and signing multiple top cricketers, including MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, as brand ambassadors.

The company will not face penalties for pulling out of the deal. The sponsorship contract included a clause stating that if a change in Indian law directly impacted the sponsor’s core business, they would not be liable for further payments. Dream11 stated after the bill’s passage, “We have always been a law-abiding company and have always conducted our business in compliance with the law. While we believe that progressive legislation would have been the way forward, we will respect the law and fully comply with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.”

Dream11’s presence extends beyond Indian cricket. It is the official fantasy partner of the Caribbean Premier League, New Zealand’s Super Smash, Australia’s Big Bash League and Women’s Big Bash League. The company also has partnerships with the International Cricket Council, Indian Super League, Pro Kabaddi League and the International Hockey Federation. Along with My11Circle, it has contributed nearly ₹1,000 crore annually to Indian cricket through sponsorships of the national team and the IPL. The ban is expected to significantly impact endorsements by cricketers associated with such platforms.