Fantasy sports platform Dream11 has officially ended its sponsorship contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following the enactment of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.

The law, which bans all real money-based online games, directly impacted Dream11’s core business model. As a result, the company informed BCCI that it would no longer be able to continue as the lead sponsor of Team India.

Dream11 Ends Sponsorship Deal
Dream11 Ends Sponsorship Deal


The Sponsorship Deal

Value of Deal: ₹358 crore

Duration: 3 years (signed July 2023)

Termination Clause: Protected Dream11 from penalties if government regulations affected its business.

Thanks to this clause, Dream11 faces no financial penalty for terminating the deal before its scheduled expiry.


Why Did Dream11 Exit?

The new law forced Dream11 to:

Suspend real money contests on its platform.

Shift to only free-to-play games.

The government cited reasons like:

Psychological distress caused by gambling-like behavior.

Financial risks and rising debt among players.

National security threats linked to unregulated money flows.


What’s Next for BCCI?

The withdrawal comes just weeks before the Asia Cup 2025, which starts on September 9, 2025. With limited time, BCCI faces two options:

  1. Invite fresh bids for team sponsorship rights.

  2. Allow Team India to play the Asia Cup without a lead sponsor on their jerseys.


Historical Parallels

Dream11’s exit is not unprecedented. In the past, Team India lost sponsors due to external factors:


Sahara (2013) – withdrew due to financial and legal issues.

Oppo (2019) – transferred rights citing financial burden.

Byju’s (2022–23) – pulled out amid funding concerns.


Key Takeaways

  1.  Dream11 withdrew after Online Gaming Ban 2025.
  2.  Sponsorship deal was worth ₹358 crore (2023–26).
  3.  No penalty for Dream11 due to legal protection clause.
  4.  BCCI now has limited time to find a new sponsor before Asia Cup.


FAQ's

1. Why did Dream11 withdraw from sponsoring Team India?
 Because the Online Gaming Bill 2025 banned real money-based online games, which was Dream11’s primary business model.

2. How much was the Dream11–BCCI sponsorship deal worth?
 The deal was valued at ₹358 crore for three years (2023–2026).

3. Will Dream11 pay a penalty for early termination?
 No. The contract had a clause protecting Dream11 if government regulations disrupted its business.

4. Who will be the next sponsor of Team India?
 The BCCI is expected to invite new bids, but there may not be enough time before the Asia Cup 2025.

5. Has this happened before with Indian cricket sponsors?
 Yes. Previous sponsors like Sahara, Oppo, and Byju’s also exited due to financial, legal, or geopolitical reasons.