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It would be a game-changer to have one fantasy sports app available across all platforms  truly global, seamless, and unrestricted.  

If you have been following the Dream11 saga, you already know it’s huge in India. We’re talking about a platform with over 180 million registered users  that’s more than the total number of stock market demat accounts in the country, which stood at around 140 million . Fantasy sports in India have quietly grown bigger than retail investing in terms of engaged accounts.  

But right now, the industry is staring at a massive hurdle. The recent Gaming Prohibition Bill passed in certain Indian states and reinforced with central guidelines  effectively bans all “Real Money Gaming” (RMG), lumping skill-based fantasy sports together with games of pure chance like slot machines or online poker. Broadly, the government justifies the blanket ban on the grounds of “public interest” citing concerns over addiction, financial losses, and the need to regulate gambling.  

The bill has instigated outrage and is almost certain to be challenged before the Supreme Court of India. There is precedent here. In multiple state-level court judgments  including a landmark order from the Rajasthan High Court (2020) and earlier rulings in Punjab and Haryana fantasy sports like Dream11 were legally categorized as games of skill, not chance. The courts noted that success in fantasy sports depends on the player’s knowledge of real-world sports, player statistics, match conditions, and strategic thinking, making them distinct from gambling which relies purely on luck.  

Since the Constitution of India gives states the power to legislate on gambling, past cases have been fought state by state. However, any central attempt to override these “skill vs chance” distinctions can be legally attacked. The likely legal argument against the latest bill will be that it fails to make the necessary distinction recognized in prior judgments, and therefore violates the fundamental right to conduct a legitimate business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. There is also a proportionality argument that regulating to prevent harm can’t mean banning skill-based games outright when courts have already recognized their legality.   


The demand side is gigantic. While fantasy cricket is the powerhouse in India, there’s an enthusiastic community of fans for football (soccer), the NBA, and even Major League Baseball (MLB). The popularity of the English Premier League, La Liga, and UEFA Champions League in India is underestimated by many. Millions wake up at 1:30 am to watch live matches. Fantasy apps have been riding this wave, offering contests for these global sports alongside cricket, and tapping into India’s younger, more globalized sports audience.  
