New Delhi: The Supreme Court’s ongoing consideration of challenges to India’s real-money gaming ban is keeping the gaming industry’s legal future uncertain, while its impact on Indian cricket is already becoming visible. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA) introduced a nationwide prohibition on online money games. The Supreme Court has moved the constitutional challenges towards final hearings, with petitioners arguing that the blanket ban affects their right to carry on business. For Indian cricket, the disappearance of real-money gaming companies has created a significant sponsorship and advertising gap. Fantasy sports and gaming platforms had become major commercial partners of the BCCI, the IPL and several franchises, while leading cricketers also featured prominently in their advertising campaigns.
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According to estimates cited by MyKhel, real-money gaming companies accounted for around 18-20 per cent of IPL advertising expenditure at their peak, with the sector’s annual sports advertising spending estimated at more than ₹4,500 crore. The BCCI was among those affected after its Dream11 jersey partnership ended following the gaming restrictions. IPL franchises and broadcasters have also had to look for alternative sources of revenue as one of the sport’s biggest advertising categories disappeared. Players, too, have lost an important endorsement category, with several leading Indian cricketers having previously promoted fantasy gaming platforms. Smaller sports leagues could face an even greater challenge because they have fewer commercial avenues to replace lost gaming sponsorship.
The cricket industry is now looking towards sectors such as automobiles, insurance, fintech, e-commerce and FMCG to fill the sponsorship gap. While the IPL and BCCI have greater financial strength to absorb the disruption, the long-term impact on Indian sport will depend partly on the Supreme Court’s final decision and the emergence of new commercial partners.
