The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ended its association with Dream11 as Team India’s jersey sponsor, a move triggered by the newly passed Online Gaming Bill. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the contract with the fantasy sports platform, originally set to run until March 2026, had to be cut short due to the changes in law. “We had a three-year deal with Dream11, but because of the new law, we had to end the contract abruptly. They are no longer part of the BCCI’s sponsorship. We still had six months left with them, but now we are looking at a fresh arrangement for two and a half to three years,” Saikia told ANI. Dream11 had replaced Byju’s in 2023 as India’s lead sponsor. The fantasy sports company had signed a three-year agreement with the board, continuing the trend of high-profile brands associating with the Indian team. However, the landscape shifted with the introduction of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill.
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The Bill, passed in Parliament last week, seeks to promote e-sports and online social games while imposing a complete ban on money-based online gaming. The government highlighted the risks of addiction, financial losses, and mental health challenges linked to such platforms as the key reason behind the prohibition. The BCCI has already invited fresh bids for the jersey sponsorship, ensuring that the team’s branding remains strong beyond 2026. With India’s popularity as a cricketing powerhouse, officials are confident of finding a new partner without difficulty.
