BCCI braces for online gaming law’s impact on cricket sponsorships
India’s new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 has sent ripples through the cricket industry — and the BCCI is right at the center of it. With flagship sponsors like Dream11 and My11Circle affected by the new law, the board has made its position crystal clear: compliance comes first.
Speaking to Times of India, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia addressed the implications of the proposed legislation and emphasized the board’s commitment to legality and government policy.
“The BCCI will not do anything which is not permitted by the government or by any law of the country. The BCCI will not violate any of the laws enforced in the country. That’s very clear,” Saikia said.
The bill, which aims to ban all real-money gaming platforms and their promoters, has reportedly ended Dream11’s current ₹358 crore (approx. $40.99 million) agreement as Team India’s title sponsor and threatens My11Circle’s ongoing fantasy gaming rights with the IPL.
‘Only what’s legal’: BCCI won’t back betting or gaming if banned
The BCCI’s approach to sponsorship will be shaped entirely by what the new law allows:
“Once the act comes into force, we will look into it, examine it and if it’s permissible, then we will take sponsorship (from online betting and gaming companies), if it’s not permissible, we’ll not do anything. Take the example of cigarettes and liquor. Has the BCCI taken any sponsorship from the cigarettes and liquor companies once taking sponsorship from these kinds of companies was banned? So, whatever is permissible in the laws in force in our country, we will do that only,” Saikia said.
The message is clear: the board will steer clear of any association that could contradict the law.
“The BCCI will follow every policy of the country which is framed by the central government,” Saikia reiterated.
Green light for Asia Cup amid India-Pakistan bilateral freeze
Beyond gaming, the BCCI also weighed in on the central government’s new policy regarding international sporting ties — particularly the sensitive India-Pakistan equation. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports issued a directive clarifying that while no bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan will be allowed — even at neutral venues — participation in multilateral events like the Asia Cup will continue.
“Today, the central government has come out with a policy on international sporting events. We welcome this. This will put to rest all the campaigns against India participating in the Asia Cup. The BCCI is doing this (participating in the Asia Cup) as per the central government’s policy. The central government has taken the interest of the players, the teams and also, the events that are going to be hosted by our country in the future. So, all these things are very nicely taken by the government of India and we fully endorse the view expressed by the central government and we will 100% abide by the policy framed by the central government,” Saikia explained.
India is slated to face Pakistan at least twice in the upcoming tournament, and this new policy framework paves the way for those matches to proceed, while maintaining the bilateral freeze.
‘Not a single inch’ outside government policy, says BCCI
From sponsorships to scheduling, Saikia left no doubt that the board’s every move will align with the center’s legal and policy frameworks.
“The BCCI will not go a single inch against the government’s policy. We will fully abide by all policies of the central government, whether it is participating in an international sporting event or regarding sponsorship. We will follow everything in true letter and spirit,” he asserted.
As India’s cricket economy adapts to evolving legislation, the BCCI has drawn a definitive boundary around its future actions — one firmly grounded in law, national policy, and full transparency.
