Devajit Saikia, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), announced on Monday that the board has ended its association with the fantasy sports platform Dream11. Negotiations to secure a new lead sponsor are currently underway. Dream11 had signed a three-year agreement worth Rs 358 crore in July 2023, replacing Byju’s as the Indian cricket team’s primary sponsor. The company had also forged significant ties with the Indian Premier League (IPL), including multiple franchise partnerships, and even became the lead sponsor in 2020 after Vivo’s withdrawal.

This shift comes after the passing of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 in both houses of Parliament last week, which received approval from President Droupadi Murmu. In response, Dream11 decided to suspend all money-based online gaming contests on its platform.

“With the new legislation in place, it will be challenging for the BCCI to continue its association with Dream11 or any similar gaming companies. There’s a significant roadblock, and I don’t believe BCCI will be able to maintain its partnership with Dream11. We are currently exploring alternative options,” Saikia told IANS.

Sources reveal that Dream11 will not incur penalties for ending the deal, as its contract includes a clause that protects the sponsor if government regulations prohibit its core business, allowing it to exit without financial repercussions.

When questioned about whether the BCCI plans to release a new tender for the Indian team’s sponsorship, particularly with the Men’s T20 Asia Cup set to take place in the UAE from September 9-28, Saikia responded, “Nothing has been finalised yet, but we will need an alternative moving forward. With Dream11 stepping away, there will be a gap in the sponsorship slot. So, we need an alternative, not a direct replacement. We are currently discussing how to proceed and what our next steps will be,” he added.

“Under the new law, Dream11 will no longer be with us. We still have some time, at least 20 days, or more specifically, around 15 days. If something comes up within this time frame, we’ll find a replacement. If not, we’ll see how things unfold over time.”

Similarly, My11Circle, another fantasy sports company, faces uncertainty regarding its deal with the BCCI. Since 2024, the company has been paying Rs 125 crore annually to the board as the official fantasy sports partner of the IPL. However, it may now be forced to follow Dream11.