Dream11 Ends Paid Contests, Cancels National Cricket Team Sponsorship

Indian online fantasy sports giant Dream11 has reportedly put an end to a multi-million-dollar sponsorship agreement with India’s national cricket team. This decision comes shortly after the country passed a landmark bill that prohibits real-money online gaming.

Dream11 Pivots to a Free-to-Play Model

On August 22, Dream11 announced a major change to its business model in India. In line with The Promotion & Regulation of Online Gambling Law 2025, the company remained committed to ending all paid contests on its platform.

While India has always had a strict stance on gambling, Dream11 presented its products as skill-based games, thus avoiding scrutiny. However, the new law envisions a broader crackdown on real-money gaming that will affect its business.

In a statement on X, Dream11 said that it will pivot entirely to a free-to-play online social game. It reminisced about its humble beginnings and thanked its fans for helping it become a local powerhouse.

In addition to that, Dream 11 reiterated its commitment to supporting the local sports sector but noted that it also remains committed to following the law, thus the changes.

We are fortunate to have a portfolio of amazing Sports Tech businesses including FanCode, DreamSetGo and Dream Game Studios, along with our Dream Sports Foundation. These will continue to power our vision to “Make Sports Better” and support our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s ambition of making India a global sporting superpower. Thank you for all your love and trust.

Dream11 statement

According to reports, paid contests were responsible for a significant portion of the company’s income.

Dream11 Ends Its Agreement with the National Team

In the meantime, local media outlets suggested that India’s decision to put an end to online gaming and betting has forced the company to cancel its $41 million sponsorship agreement with India’s national cricket team.

Originally signed in 2023, the deal saw Dream11 join forces with the team’s men’s and women’s divisions, securing it a spot on the front of athletes’ jerseys.

This comes several days ahead of the T20 Asia Cup.