SHUMAILA ASLAM
Scandinavian News Agency
Bureau Chief Pakistan
Indiaโs parliament has enacted a sweeping ban on online gambling nationwide, with violators facing jail sentences of up to five years.
The legislation follows government data showing that gambling companies were extracting nearly $2.3 billion each year from an estimated 450 million users. The ban covers card games, poker, and fantasy sports platforms โ including Indiaโs hugely popular fantasy cricket apps.
The move has also created uncertainty over the sponsorship of Indiaโs national cricket team. Dream11, the countryโs largest fantasy sports operator, was announced in July 2023 as Team Indiaโs lead sponsor for three years, with its branding featured prominently on playersโ jerseys.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to clarify the fate of the sponsorship deal. โIf it isnโt allowed, we wonโt pursue it,โ BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said on Friday, emphasizing that the board will strictly adhere to the central governmentโs policies.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, passed late Thursday in both houses, criminalises the offering, promotion, and financing of such games. Following its approval, Dream11 issued a statement confirming that all โcash games and contestsโ had been suspended, while asking fans to โstay tunedโ for updates.
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