SHUMAILA ASLAM
Scandinavian News Agency
Bureau Chief Pakistan
India’s 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 — including India’s hugely popular fantasy cricket apps.
The move has also created uncertainty over the sponsorship of India’s national cricket team. Dream11, the country’s largest fantasy sports operator, was announced in July 2023 as Team India’s lead sponsor for three years, with its branding featured prominently on players’ jerseys.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to clarify the fate of the sponsorship deal. “If it isn’t allowed, we won’t pursue it,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said on Friday, emphasizing that the board will strictly adhere to the central government’s 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 “cash games and contests” had been suspended, while asking fans to “stay tuned” for updates.
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