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Dream11 has shut down all its paid gaming contests following the government’s recent ban on real-money gaming (RMG)
Dream11 CEO Harsh Jain. (Image via X/@harshjain85)
Harsh Jain, Co-founder and CEO of Dream Sports, has said that the company will not challenge the government’s ban on real-money gaming (RMG), stating that while the move has dealt a major blow to the industry, the company will continue to comply with the law.
Dream11, India’s largest fantasy sports platform and until recently the jersey sponsor of the Indian cricket team, shut down all its paid gaming contests after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Money Gaming Bill, 2025 was passed by both houses of Parliament last week.
“I don’t think this is personal. This is business, and the government has to make decisions for the country,” Jain said in an interview with Storyboard18, adding that Dream11, despite losing nearly 95% of its revenue due to the ban, respects the decisions made by lawmakers in a democracy.
“India is a democracy, and lawmakers decide what’s best. As a businessman, I want to protect my company and industry, but we’ve always been law-abiding,” he added.
He explained that while Dream11’s business model was constitutionally protected earlier, the company immediately complied with the new law even before the ban was formally signed. “And I can say clearly: Dream11 will not challenge this law in court,” he said.
When asked if the company was walking away from any legal fight, Jain Jain noted, “Not at all. It’s about respecting the law. When GST was raised, we complied without going to court, even though it hurt us. Similarly, today’s law prohibits RMG, so we won’t challenge it.”
“However, if someone tries to retroactively claim our past operations were illegal gambling, we will defend ourselves, because back then we were constitutionally protected,” the CEO clarified.
Meanwhile, following the passage of the bill, Dream11 also ended its sponsorship deal with the BCCI. On Monday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the development, stating that the board “will not indulge with any such organisations” in future.
“BCCI and Dream 11 are discontinuing their relationship after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, was passed. BCCI will ensure not to indulge with any such organisations ahead in future,” Saikia said.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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