Fantasy sports giant Dream11 has announced that it is stopping all paid contests on its platform and moving entirely to a free-to-play model in response to the newly enacted “Promotion & Regulation of Online Gaming Law, 2025.”
In a statement posted on social media, the company said it would respect and comply with the law, even though it had hoped for more progressive regulations. Dream11 emphasized its commitment to being a law-abiding business and reiterated its vision of “Making Sports Better” through its wider sports tech ecosystem, including FanCode, DreamSetGo, and Dream Game Studios.
The company, which started 18 years ago, grew to become the world’s largest fantasy sports platform under the ethos of “Made in India, for India, by Indians.” Its pivot marks a significant turning point in India’s gaming industry, which has long operated in a regulatory grey zone.
However, the announcement has triggered sharp reactions from users, many of whom have invested money, time, and energy into the platform for years. One user tagged Dream11 co-founder Harsh Jain, urging the company not to “just leave like this,” and instead challenge the law in the Supreme Court.
Critics argue that the new legislation may not withstand constitutional scrutiny. Legal experts and commentators have pointed out possible violations, including:
- Article 19(1)(g): Unreasonable restriction on skill-based gaming businesses.
- Article 14: Arbitrary and vague classification of skill-based games as gambling.
- Article 301: Disruption of interstate trade and commerce.
- Seventh Schedule (List II, Entry 34): Encroachment on states’ powers over betting and gambling.
They cite earlier precedents such as Dream11 (2020), Junglee Games (2021), and Mineral Area (2024), which upheld the legality of skill-based fantasy gaming. According to experts, these precedents could provide strong grounds for writ petitions, with a stay on the law being “highly likely.”
For now, Dream11 says it will focus on its broader sports tech businesses and support India’s ambition of becoming a global sporting superpower. But with industry players and users signaling potential legal challenges, the fate of fantasy sports in India may soon be tested in the courts.
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