He has newly undergone an online game account known as promoting and regulating the online game account 2025, sent shock waves through Indian sport and gaming ecosystem. According to Storage of a blanket on the games of real money (RMG) Online, legislation is ready to disrupt the prosperous sector, which has become the main source of sport sponsorship, especially in cricket, Kabaddi, football and emerging regional leagues. Analysts warn that hundreds of companies, millions of players, and a wide range of sports leagues that are increasingly relying on RMG platforms as sponsors.
The Indian game industry of real money has grown next to the popularity of fantasy sport and mobile games. Platforms such as Dream11 and My11cirCle have invested considerable quantity in cricket with Dream11 to ensure the right to sponsorship of the title of Indian cricket team For approximately 358 CRS ($ 44 million) in three years, while My11cirCle won the official fantasy sports partnership for the CRORE RS 625 in five years – equal to Rs 125 Crore per year.
In addition to cricket, fantasy sports platforms supported for Kabaddi League, while football clubs and leagues also recorded significant wiring and sponsorship. The regional leagues T20 in states such as Pandjab and Tamil Nadu, along with new leagues such as Ruby, attracted RMG sponsors.
A sudden withdrawal of this funding is expected to create a financial vacuum across a sports ecosystem.
Aahna Mehrotra, a leading lawyer and founder of AM Sports Law & Management Co., notes: “Given that online gaming advertising is also banned under the law, that entities working in this area have no choice but to leave shops – in the next future will have an impact on the League.”
“It will definitely have an immediate impact on the binding of BCCi with Dream11. Most of the legal advice acting on behalf of these companies have done a smart thing – there are provisions that allow termination if the law prohibits activity, but in this case the law still prohibits advertising. possibilities.
When Mehrotra, he thought about the wider consequences of the ban and points out the uneven handling of online versus offline games.
“After working in this industry for the last 10-15 years, several courts have again and again decided that games played for betting are legal. Now you actually forbid them from online space. However, if you play Rummy in the club (physical space), that is still allowed.
Economic shares in risk
The numbers emphasize the size of what is at risk. The Indian online game market is awarded at $ 3.7 billion, and by 2029 it is expected to be more than double at $ 9.1 billion. Almost 86% of these income comes from real money formats. The sector supports direct and indirect jobs, bridge game developers, designers, animators, e-sports and startup players.
It is estimated that this industry includes approximately 400 companies that contribute 25,000 CRS in investment and 20,000 RS per year in GST. The loss of the game segment of real money will effectively pull the financial rope out of this ecosystem.
Industry observers emphasize that the limitation based on planting brands and alternative advertising in previous years has already influenced sponsorship flows. Mehrotra Explains, “The Kind of Revenue That The Betting Companies Generate Versus Other Real-Money Skill Based Gaming Brands-The Latter Couldn’t Match the Sponsorship Value that Betting Brands Weres Sponsorship Was Pitched to Surrogates Was Very High and They Who Were OK to IT. Which skills based is forbidden that it is also on the basis of this industry and is that this industry is based on the fact that it is based on sport and is that it is based on the sports league.
An unequal impact?
The impact of the ban will not be uniform. For BCCI, a cricket ecosystem may have a certain degree of durability. The Board of Board and most IPL franchises have the stellar power and the attractiveness of the brand to attract traditional sponsors, but sponsorship numbers may not correspond to the levels of RMG platforms, as the demand for a high -value partnership will now surpass available sponsors.
On the other hand, the local T20 leagues, regional KABADDI competitions, football clubs, rugby teams and other newly emerging sports franchises lack such warranty. Their recent growth relied almost exclusively on RMG sponsorship not only for winning and operating budgets, but also for marketing, media visibility and fans’ involvement. The sudden withdrawal of these sponsors leaves a financial vacuum that could stop growth or even endanger the continuing existence of some leagues.
For smaller competitions, finding alternative sponsors in a short time is demanding. Unlike cricket, where more commercial partners can enter, these sports do not have a scale or brand to quickly ensure comparable investments. Observers suggest that unless new sources of financing – including units of the public sector, private enterprises or alternative commercial models appear – many local competitions can try to survive the immediate consequences of the ban.
Why a ban?
The government frames an online game account as a social warranty. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the legislation and said that “would strengthen the development of esports, but also reduce the harmful effects of online money”. He stressed that India could appear as a global game center, innovation and creativity, while protecting society from addictive and potentially harmful aspects of online gambling.
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized Examples of massive fraud, increasing credit card debt and even suicide associated with playing money online. Concerns about money laundering, terrorist financing and misleading celebrities that lend legitimacy to platforms were also marked. The bill is unlawful to operate, facilitate or advertise games of real money and prohibits financial institutions from facilitating transactions associated with these activities with strict punishment for violators.
Came at the wrong time?
Industrial authorities, including the Federation of the All India (AIGF), the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), and the e-Gaming (EGF) Federation, were constantly moving to strengthen self-regulation after recently accepted “ethical” KYC verification. Their members include Dream11, My11cirCle, Khelo Fantasy Live, SG11 Fantasy, Winzo, Games24x7 and Jungle Games.
On this background of proactive measures came the sudden storage of the blanket as a significant shock to this industry. Aigf urged the intervention and advocated progressive regulation over a direct ban to prevent legitimate players from being driven to unregulated or illegal platforms.
The speed and lack of consultations surrounding the bill contributed to uncertainty. Mehrotra explains: “I assume that in the near future I will predict many lawsuits. The parties involved will be closer to courts who ask whether this violates constitutional or fundamental rights or whether it is a state subject or within the center.
The bill effectively eliminates the distinction between skill games and accidentally in the online space that were historically recognized by Indian courts.
Will subscription models work?
While the models for subscriptions only remain permissible, fantasy applications that rely on money or winnings cannot work in their current form. Mehrotra warns: “If it changes its model only to a subscription without wins, it will potentially have a huge impact on the user base, which can directly affect the viability of operations. It could push some users into gray -ranked market transactions or unverified platforms.
Globally, approaches to online game games in real money differ. The United Kingdom regulates online gambling under the 2005 gambling law, which requires licensed operators to comply with consumers protection and responsible game standards. In the United States, online gambling is regulated at state level, and some states allow this in strict frames and others completely forbid. The Middle East nations, including the UAE, have historically forbidden gambling, although recent license initiatives for certain activities show a controlled regulatory approach.
Mehrotra notes: “International there are some jurisdictions that first went on the way of total ban and later came to the licensing system. Perhaps in the future licensing could appear, but in the future it could be introduced in the future as if it was introduced in the license process for the gaming industry.”
Journey to us
The ban on game games creates a clear abyss. BCCI with its scale, diversified sponsorship and contractual warranty, is likely to immortalize immediate disturbances. Smaller leagues – local T20 tournaments, Kabaddi, football clubs, rugby teams and emerging franchises – are facing a much more insecure future that have been strongly relying on RMG sponsorship for financing, marketing and visibility.
In the coming months, it tests the adaptability of the Indian sports ecosystem and its ability to maintain growth without a financial rescue rope that once provided platforms for real money.
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Published:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
August 22, 2025
