A second-half brace from Omang Dodum guided India to a convincing 3-0 victory over Pakistan in their opening Group B match of the SAFF U20 Championship, securing a semifinal berth on Thursday. Dodum scored in the 64th and 88th minutes after Vishal Yadav had given the Blue Colts an early lead in the
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has drawn a parallel between her party's fight against the BJP and the epic battle of the Pandavas and Kauravas. She expressed confidence in public support even if President's rule is imposed. The Election Commission is preparing supplementary voter lists
Meta, YouTube negligence: Years of evidence underpins Big Tech addiction fineThe bulk of the internal documentary evidence presented at trial related to Meta. Updated on: Mar 27, 2026 6:21 AM IST By HT Correspondent Share via Copy link New Delhi : A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Meta and
Deepak Tijori questions CBFC's logic behind ‘half-muted’ cuss words in Dhurandhar The Revenge: ‘Who are we protecting?’Deepak Tijori criticised the CBFC's half-muting of cuss words in the adult film Dhurandhar: The Revenge, questioning the rationale behind such censorship. Mar 27, 2026
Posters have surfaced across Lucknow comparing the Samajwadi Party’s rule in Uttar Pradesh to Pakistan’s “Lyari Raj", targeting Akhilesh Yadav with a reference to its depiction in the film Dhurandhar. The development comes days after a separate political jibe by Parvesh Verma
The Lok Sabha has passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, a legislation that bans online money games in India. The move, aimed at tackling rising instances of financial fraud, money laundering and gaming addiction, could trigger a seismic shift in the country's sports economy — especially cricket.
Online Gaming Bill 2025 passed by Lok Sabha: Will it hit Indian cricket industry's revenue? A look at its impact
The Lok Sabha has passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, a legislation that bans online money games in India. The move, aimed at tackling rising instances of financial fraud, money laundering and gaming addiction, could trigger a seismic shift in the country's sports economy — especially cricket.
While the Bill has been hailed as a landmark for esports and educational gaming, its restrictions on real money gaming platforms could spell trouble for a multi-billion-dollar fantasy gaming industry that has, until now, bankrolled cricket's sponsorship market.
What does the new Bill ban?
The legislation sharply divides gaming into four categories: esports, educational gaming, social and casual gaming, and real-money gaming. Of these, real-money gaming — where users deposit funds and play for cash rewards — has been declared a criminal offence.Key prohibitions include:
No person shall offer or engage in online money gaming services.
No bank or financial institution can facilitate transactions for such games.
Advertisements for online money games are banned across all media.
Penalties are steep. Service providers face up to three years' imprisonment or a fine of up to ₹1 crore, while advertisers risk up to two years in jail or a fine of ₹50 lakh.
How does this impact Indian cricket?
Few industries are as intertwined with real money gaming as Indian cricket. Dream11, for instance, currently holds the Indian cricket team's title sponsorship rights at approximately ₹358 crore, while My11Circle is the official fantasy partner of the IPL, paying a staggering ₹625 crore for a five-year deal.In addition, current and former cricket stars command personal endorsement contracts worth tens of crores from fantasy gaming platforms, recounts PTI.
With the Bill prohibiting cash-based gaming models, these sponsorship streams could dry up, directly impacting:
The BCCI's central revenue pool from team and league sponsors, PTI says. Franchise-based leagues in cricket, kabaddi and football that rely on gaming sponsorships. Individual player endorsements, which may shrink dramatically.Sports lawyer Vidushpat Singhania believes Indian cricket will survive, but not without consequences, according to PTI report.
“Cricket is huge in India and there won't be any dearth of sponsors for Indian cricket and its properties. However, the personal sponsorship market can shrink because of this bill. Fan engagement will also be affected,” he told PTI.
Could fantasy platforms adapt?
Industry insiders argue that fantasy gaming may pivot towards a subscription-based model, charging users an entry fee instead of facilitating real-money stakes. But such models may not generate the same scale of revenue as cash-based fantasy leagues.As Singhania explained to PTI:
“There will be a subscription fee and say you pay ₹100 for a gaming app and test your skills in fantasy gaming. But real money gaming which is paying and earning money, that is prohibited as per this bill.”
This shift could diminish the massive revenue streams that have been flowing from fantasy gaming into cricket, raising questions about whether alternative sponsors can fill the gap.
Who benefits from the Bill?
While cricket may face a financial squeeze, the esports industry has welcomed the Bill. With esports gaining Olympic recognition and scheduled to debut at the Esports Olympics in Riyadh in 2027, the legislation's recognition of esports as a distinct category is seen as a milestone.Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and MD of NODWIN Gaming, told PTI:
“The government's intent to recognise and promote esports, as highlighted in the recent bill, is an encouraging step towards building a structured and globally competitive ecosystem. However, for this vision to truly materialise, clear distinctions between esports, online gaming, social gaming and money gaming must be made.”
(With PTI inputs)
Source: LiveMint
Related Posts: Lok Sabha Passes Online Gaming Bill 2025 Amid Rs 20 Nazara Technologies stock crashes 10% after Lok Sabha passes Bill on online gaming Lok Sabha clears Bill that bans real money gaming Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned over Congress rally slogans against PM Gaming regulation roulette may sink billions in VC money 5 premium gaming laptops offering power for uninterrupted gaming sessions Self-regulation for online media ineffective Govt working to ensure benefits of GST rate cuts passed on to consumers Iran war cost will be passed to consumers Benefit of lower GST will be passed on to consumers
Google India and BCCI are joining forces for IPL 2026, integrating AI-powered Search Mode to revolutionize fan engagement. Cricket enthusiasts can now access real-time tactical analysis, historical data, and AI-generated summaries of key moments directly through Google Search and broadcasts
2 hours ago
She hired workers to fix her roof, then allegedly reported crew to ICEThe Maryland resident called ICE on a crew of Guatemalan immigrants who were fixing her roof. Six workers aged between 18 and 40 were detained. Published on: Mar 27, 2026 7:07 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link A woman
2 hours ago
Samantha Ruth Prabhu dreams women negotiating contracts across film industries becomes 'most boring headline' somedaySamantha Ruth Prabhu shared how women adjust, sacrifice and apologise in their careers. The actor expressed her dreams for women in cinema. Mar 27, 2026
2 hours ago
A $100 crude scenario could trigger deep earnings cuts across Indian stocks UBS lists Tata Motors, IndiGo and OMCs as most vulnerable UBS highlights Indian stocks facing biggest earnings risk in a $100 oil scenario India sits among the markets facing pressure in a $100 per barrel oil world
2 hours ago
The interruption of oil and gas supplied through the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Israel war with Iran has dramatically pushed up global energy prices. Petrol has gone up already and UK domestic heating bills are almost certain to follow. But it's not just fuel that's been impacted by the
2 hours ago
Meet the A-list lawyer Luka Doncic is counting on to win his legal battle with Anamaria Goltes Updated on: Mar 27, 2026 7:28 AM IST Edited by Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan Share via Copy link Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles the ball down court during the second half against the Indiana
2 hours ago
Fasting can offer several health benefits, but knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing when to start. “People can gain health benefits from fasting, but they must understand both the right time to begin and the right time to end it," says Dr. Sameer Bhati, Public Health Analyst
2 hours ago
The campaigning in poll-bound West Bengal is in full swing, and amid the preparations, Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dilip Ghosh on Thursday promised a complete transformation and “Uttar Pradesh-style encounters" against criminals if the saffron regiment comes to power in the state
2 hours ago
Iran on Thursday rejected the US’ proposal to end the war, referring to it as “one-sided and unfair". The proposal was “reviewed in detail on Wednesday night by senior Iranian officials and the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader," reported Reuters, citing an official
2 hours ago
The initiative builds on existing SEBI measures, including validated UPI handles and a whitelist of stockbrokers’ mobile applications maintained by exchanges. New Delhi: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey launched the Verified App Label Initiative on
2 hours ago
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday fielded the mother of the doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital and Medical College in August 2024 as a candidate for the West Bengal Assembly elections. The mother of the doctor will contest the polls from the Panihati constituency
2 hours ago
Not every Bollywood story is glamorous, and Aarti Chabria is saying it as it is. The actor recently spoke about how several of her roles were reduced or removed from films, calling it a part of industry realities she had to deal with during her career.Not every Bollywood story is glamorous
2 hours ago
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned that the consequences of the escalating conflict in West Asia could be difficult to predict and may end up having a global impact comparable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking amid growing international concern over the Iran-US-Israel conflict
2 hours ago
PMC to expand healthcare network even as existing facilities remain underutilisedPMC has announced plans to expand its healthcare network with new cancer and multi-specialty hospitals, even as many of its existing facilities continue to remain underutilised Published on: Mar 27
2 hours ago
The latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 confirm India’s growing strength on the global stage. This year, 12 Indian institutions have secured 27 positions in the global top 50 across various subjects – more than double the number in 2024
2 hours ago
US president Donald Trump says he will meet Chinese president Xi Jinping in China on 14-15 May, after delaying the landmark trip amid the US-Israel war with Iran. This would be the first visit to China by a US president in nearly 10 years. Trump is also set to host Xi in Washington DC later this
2 hours ago
US mortgage rates jump to 6.38% as Iran war rattles housing marketBorrowers with a $1 million loan would now pay about $6,242 per month, not including insurance and taxes. That is up from $5,983 in late February. Published on: Mar 26, 2026 10:51 PM IST Bloomberg Share via Copy link US mortgage
2 hours ago
Nemom constituency is not stronghold of any party: V SivankuttyCPI(M) legislator V Sivankutty faces tough competition in Kerala's Nemom from BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Congress's KS Sabarinadhan in upcoming polls. Published on: Mar 27, 2026 7:04 AM IST By Vishnu Varma
2 hours ago
Who is Ana Montana? Inside LaMelo Ball’s relationship, the 'toxic' post, and parenthood rumors Published on: Mar 27, 2026 7:13 AM IST Edited by Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan Share via Copy link Ana Montana is a successful model with over 3 million followers on Instagram
2 hours ago
A former Indian Supreme Court Justice has informed the UK High Court about the risks faced by Nirav Modi. Justice Deepak Verma stated that Modi faces prolonged interrogation and a significant risk of custodial torture in India. This opinion was provided in response to Modi's plea to reopen his
2 hours ago
Vaccination is often associated with childhood, but experts say protection against infections must extend far beyond the early years. From safeguarding newborns to protecting ageing adults, immunisation plays a critical role across every stage of life.Vaccination is often associated with childhood
2 hours ago
Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi's former company, Firestar Diamond International, is set to auction its precious inventory of gems and jewellery on April 27. The e-auction, under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, will feature natural loose diamonds and finished pieces
2 hours ago
American Coco Gauff cruised past Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her first Miami Open final. The Florida-born 22-year-old dropped only two games to triumph 6-1 6-1 in one hour and 30 minutes. Having been broken in the first game, Gauff won 10 games in a row to take control of the match
2 hours ago
The day before Wales faced Bosnia-Herzegovina in their World Cup play-off semi-final, their head coach said: "Do not get involved in chaos. A chaotic game will not suit us, it suits them." When the moment came to pass, when Wales had control, they did not heed those words
2 hours ago
This is the second part of a debate on whether Hindi or English are weakening other Indian languages and constricting linguistic diversity. Read the first part here. English has done remarkable damage to India’s linguistic progress by stifling other Indian languages. Instead
2 hours ago
When Ranvir Singh Yadav was sacked in 1976, he was a young bus conductor in Delhi with two sons to raise. The reason? The courts vindicated him four decades later, but not before he and the system had spent nearly ₹5 lakh in legal fees over a trivial sum.When Ranvir Singh Yadav was sacked in 1976
2 hours ago
Royal Challengers Bengaluru is a prominent IPL team. They are recognized for their strong fan base and talented players. The team plays at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. They are known for their aggressive batting style. Rajat Patidar leads the team this season
2 hours ago
