THE ‘PROMOTION AND REGULATION OF ONLINE GAMING BILL, 2025’, recently approved by the Lok Sabha and awaiting passage in the Rajya Sabha, could cause sports facing OTT platforms, digital companies, and broadcasters to reportedly lose at least Rs 2,000 crore annually if real money gaming (RMG) advertisements disappear.
According to Media Care Brand Solutions director Yasin Hamidani, RMG and fantasy platforms collectively spend over Rs 10,000 crore annually on marketing and advertising across digital, sports, and influencer channels.
The Bill defines an ‘online money game’ as any online game — whether based on skill, chance, or both — played by a user who pays fees, deposits money, or stakes in expectation of winning, where monetary or other enrichment is involved. E‑sports are explicitly excluded from this definition.
Major RMG platforms include Dream11, My11Circle, WinZo, and Games24x7. Industry bodies such as the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) have voiced opposition to the proposed ban.
Some notable RMG deals via sponsorship and advertising include:
* Dream11 is the lead sponsor rights for the Indian cricket team from July 2023 to March 2026 for a base price of Rs.358 crore.
* My11Circle became the official partner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), committing Rs.125 crore annually for five years starting 2024.
* Extensive advertising campaigns during major tournaments.
* Numerous athletes have personal endorsements from RMG brands.
Cricket stars like MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, and Jasprit Bumrah have deals with Dream11. Others like Sourav Ganguly, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh, and Yashasvi Jaiswal have signed with My11Circle.
Sports lawyer Vidushpat Singhania believes that the BCCI will still find alternative sponsors. “Cricket is huge in India, and there won’t be any dearth of sponsors for Indian cricket. However, the personal sponsorship market can shrink because of this bill. Fan engagement will also be affected,” Singhania told PTI.
