Dream11 ended its sponsorship of the Indian cricket team after the Online Gaming Bill, leaving BCCI to seek a new sponsor before the Asia Cup.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday officially ended its association with Dream11, with the fantasy sports platform no longer sponsoring the Indian cricket team. The move followed the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill in both houses of parliament last Thursday. With just a fortnight left for the Asia Cup in the UAE, the Indian team is currently without a title sponsor.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the development to ANI, adding that the board will not enter into partnerships with such organisations in the future.
“BCCI and Dream 11 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,” he said.
Earlier, a media report revealed that Dream11 representatives visited the BCCI office in Mumbai and informed the board CEO about their to no longer sponsor the Indian team. It added that the Indian board is expected to issue a new tender soon.
“(Representatives of) Dream11 visited the BCCI office and informed CEO Hemang Amin that they won’t be able to continue… As a result, they won’t be the team’s sponsors for the Asia Cup. The BCCI will float a new tender soon,” a BCCI official told the Indian Exres.
Another official confirmed that the sponsor’s decision to pull out is unlikely to be penalised, owing to a clause in the contract. The clause states that if the sponsor’s core business is affected by a change in law enforced by the Indian government, they ‘won’t be liable to pay anything’ to the cricket board.”
Dream11, founded 18 years ago and now valued at $8 billion, became BCCI’s lead sponsor in July 2023, replacing edtech firm Byju’s with a three-year deal worth ₹358 crore. Besides the Indian team, they also ventured into the IPL, where they roped in several top players like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah as their brand ambassadors. In 2020, they even became the trophy sponsor of the IPL, replacing Chinese firm Vivo.
Dream 11 also has a presence in foreign leagues. They are the official fantasy partner of the Caribbean Premier League and the title sponsor of Super Smash. They also have footprints in the Australian domestic T20 competitions, the Big Bash League and the Women’s Big Bash League. Not to forget, they also partnered with the International Cricket Council in 2018.
Dream11 also has deals in other sports. It is the official fantasy partner for the Indian Super League and is associated with the Pro Kabaddi League and the International Hockey Federation.
The article originally appeared on Hindustan Times
