New Delhi: India’s recent ban on online gambling has brought a sudden halt to a billion-dollar industry that served hundreds of millions of users, while also ending major sponsorship deals with the national cricket team.

The new law, passed last month by Parliament, prohibits online gambling on card games and fantasy sports — including the hugely popular fantasy cricket platforms. Offenders now face penalties of up to five years in prison.

Despite the ban, many gamblers are expected to turn to offshore and unregulated websites, using tools such as virtual private networks (VPNs) and proxy credit cards to bypass restrictions. “A habit once formed cannot be broken easily,” said Adarsh Sharma, an advertising professional and regular fantasy sports player. “It is an addiction and people will find ways to gamble.”

Government officials justified the ban by highlighting the widespread financial distress caused by online gambling, linking it to addiction, fraud, money laundering, and even terrorism financing. According to official data, companies had been extracting $2.3 billion annually from 450 million Indian users.

One of the most visible impacts is on Dream11, the world’s largest fantasy sports platform with 260 million users, which has suspended cash games and contests in India. It now offers non-cash prizes such as cars, phones, and appliances. Dream11 also ended its $43 million sponsorship deal with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), meaning its logo no longer appears on the Indian cricket team’s jerseys.

For many players, like Jamshed Noor from Delhi, the love of cricket remains a key motivation. “Money was definitely an attraction, but I still play, despite money being off the table now,” he said.

The ban is expected to have a wider ripple effect across the sporting industry, especially during the Indian Premier League (IPL), where fantasy sports platforms have been among the most aggressive advertisers. Analysts warn this will reduce advertising revenue for IPL broadcasters and impact future media rights deals.

“Fantasy platforms accounted for up to 40 percent of IPL broadcast advertising revenue this year,” said Santosh N from D and P Advisory. “With the ban, ad spends will drop, which means less revenue for the league. When media rights are renewed in 2027, the value could be significantly lower.”

(AFP)