Dream11 opts out of title sponsorship ahead of Asia Cup, BCCI looking for new sponsor

As the Rajya Sabha passed a bill banning online gaming apps involving monetary investment and short-term financial games, Dream11, a leading online fantasy sports platform, has pulled out of its title sponsorship deal. This comes just ahead of the Asia Cup, scheduled to begin on September 10.

Devajit Saikia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, confirmed on Monday that the board’s association with fantasy sports company Dream11 has ended, and deliberations over finding a new lead sponsor is on. 

Following the passage of the bill, the company announced, “This morning, we stopped all paid contests on Dream11 and pivoted entirely to a free-to-play online social game. When we started this journey 18 years ago as a sports tech company, we were not even 1% of the size of the US fantasy sports industry. Dream11’s Fantasy Sports product was our way to ‘Make Sports Better’ for all of India. With this passion, belief, and the spirit of Made in India, for India, by Indians, we became the largest fantasy sports platform in the world. We have always been, and will always be, a law-abiding company, conducting our business in compliance with the laws. While we believe progressive regulations would have been the right way forward, we respect the law and will fully comply with The Promotion & Regulation of Online Gaming Law, 2025.”

Multiple media reports revealed that Dream11 representatives visited the BCCI office in Mumbai and informed the board’s CEO of their decision to end the sponsorship. The Indian cricket board is now expected to issue a new tender soon.

According to officials, Dream11’s withdrawal is unlikely to attract penalties due to a contract clause. The clause states that if the sponsor’s core business is affected by a change in law enforced by the Indian government, they “will not be liable to pay anything” to the cricket board.

Dream11 had signed a three-year deal worth ₹358 crore in July 2023 to replace edtech company Byju’s as the lead sponsor of the Indian cricket team. It also had a significant presence in the Indian Premier League (IPL) through multiple franchise tie-ups and being lead sponsor in 2020 after Vivo’s pullout.

But after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 was passed in both Parliament houses last week, as well as got the assent of President Droupadi Murmu, Dream11 said it suspended all money-based online gaming contests on its platform.

“Under the new legislation, it will be difficult for BCCI to continue with Dream11 or any other identical gaming companies. So, there is a roadblock and I don’t think BCCI will be able to continue with Dream11 now. We are deliberating on an alternative course of action at this stage,” said Saikia to IANS.

Asked if the BCCI will float a new tender soon for the Indian team’s sponsorship, especially with just a fortnight left for the Men’s T20 Asia Cup to happen in the UAE from September 9-28, Saikia said, “We have not finalised anything, but we'll have to have an alternative now. Because with Dream11 going away, there will be some vacancy in the sponsorship slot. So, we have to have an alternative, not a replacement. What we'll have to do and how we are going to do it, on that, we are deliberating now.”

“Dream 11 will not be with us anymore, under the new law. So we still have some time, at least 20 days or in fact, just about 15 days. So, if something develops within these 15-20 days, there will be a replacement. Otherwise, we'll see how it will progress over a period of time.”

Apart from Dream11, another fantasy sports company My11Circle’s deal with the BCCI is also under a big cloud of doubt. Since 2024, My11Circle is needed to pay Rs 125 crore annually to the BCCI for being the official fantasy partner of the IPL. But it might have to go the Dream11 way of ending its money-based gaming business.

(With inputs from syndicated feed)