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{{More citations needed|date=December 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}

'''[[Fantasy sport]]s''' came to India in the later half of the 2010s and was banned in 2025, The [[Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports]] (FIFS) served as the primary self-regulatory industry body. {{As of|2023|12}}, the sector was valued at approximately {{INRConvert|45000|c|0|lk=on|year=2023}} with over 180 million active users.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} On August 21, 2025, Indian government banned all fantasy sports games and other real money-based online games as they were considered online gambling.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=India's government bans fantasy sports games |url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2025/08/24/indias-government-bans-fantasy-sports-games |access-date=2025-08-26 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-08-26 |title=Will Dream11, Gameskraft challenge India's new online gaming law in court after ban? What they said |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/will-dream11-gameskraft-challenge-indias-new-online-gaming-law-after-ban-what-they-said-101756186897558.html |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

== Overview ==
India has numerous fantasy gaming mobile applications that allow users to create virtual teams for various sports. The [[Google Play|Google Play Store]] does not allow these apps on their platform for download, requiring users to download them directly from their websites. These platforms attract users through [[sports league]] sponsorships,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dream11 is new IPL 2020 title sponsor with winning bid of Rs 222 crore |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/top-stories/ipl-title-rights-dream11-is-new-ipl-2020-title-sponsor-with-winning-bid-of-rs-222-crore/articleshow/77609893.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821075720/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/top-stories/ipl-title-rights-dream11-is-new-ipl-2020-title-sponsor-with-winning-bid-of-rs-222-crore/articleshow/77609893.cms |url-status=dead |archive-date=2022-08-21 |website=www.timesofindia.com |access-date=2024-04-22}}</ref> [[celebrity endorsement]]s, and [[advertising campaign]]s.

=== Market size ===
According to a 2022 [[NITI Aayog]] report, the industry is expected to attract ₹10,000 crore (₹100 billion) in foreign direct investment, and reach a market value of ₹50,000 crore (₹500 billion) and expand to 200 million users or more by 2025.

== Legality ==
On August 21, 2025, Indian government banned all fantasy sports games and other real money-based online games as they were considered online gambling.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

=== Supreme Court ruling ===
On 8 August 2021, the [[Supreme Court of India]] officially declared fantasy sports legal, classifying them as [[games of skill]] rather than [[gambling]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Supreme Court upholds Dream11 fantasy sports format as game of skill |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/supreme-court-upholds-dream11-fantasy-sports-format-as-game-of-skill/articleshow/85040855.cms |work=The Economic Times |access-date=2022-10-20}}</ref>

=== High court judgments ===
Several [[High courts of India|high courts]] have ruled on fantasy sports. The [[Rajasthan High Court]] in July 2021 affirmed fantasy sports as games of skill based on the 276th Law Commission Report.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2021-07-29 |title=Rajasthan High Court dismisses Plea against Online Fantasy Games |url=https://www.lawinsider.in/news/rajasthan-high-court-dismisses-plea-against-online-fantasy-games |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Law Insider}}</ref> In April 2019 the [[Bombay High Court]] recognized fantasy sports as a legitimate skill-based industry.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bombay HC rules fantasy sports not gambling |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/bombay-hc-rules-fantasy-sports-not-gambling-11555062891850.html |work=Mint |access-date=2024-01-15}}</ref> The [[Kerala High Court]] determined fantasy sports as games of skill under section 14(A) of the Kerala Gaming Act in February 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala HC Rules Fantasy Sports as Game of Skill |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/thiruvananthapuram/kerala-hc-fantasy-sports-game-of-skill-7774521/ |url-status=dead |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Indian Express}}</ref>{{Dead link|date=August 2025|fix-attempted=yes}}

=== State-level regulations ===
{{As of|2024|1}}, states fall into three categories:{{Update inline|date=August 2025|reason=Particularly the "pending" section}}

==== States permitting fantasy sports ====
* [[Maharashtra]]
* [[Karnataka]]
* [[Rajasthan]]<ref name=":0" />
* [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
* [[Haryana]]
* [[West Bengal]]
* [[Uttar Pradesh]]

==== States with bans ====
* [[Telangana]] (complete ban since 2017)
* [[Andhra Pradesh]] (banned under Gaming Act)
* [[Odisha]] (under Gaming Act restrictions)
* [[Assam]] (under Gambling and Betting Act)
* [[Nagaland]] (requires special license)
* [[Sikkim]] (only with state license)

==== States with pending regulations ====
* [[Tamil Nadu]] (new policy under consideration)
* [[Kerala]] (reviewing regulations)
* [[Gujarat]] (draft policy in progress)

== Taxation ==
=== Changes ===
{{As of|2023|10}}, key tax reforms related to fantasy sports include:

* A [[Goods and Services Tax (India)|goods and services tax]] (GST) rate of 28% on full contest entry amounts
* [[Tax deduction at source]] requirements of 30% on winnings above ₹10,000, with net winnings calculated monthly
* Platform taxes, with a [[corporate tax]] on platform revenue, and state-specific gaming taxes where applicable

=== Impact ===
Tax changes have led to decreased user participation and a reduction of 20–25% in industry revenue. This has in turn generated market consolidation trends and platform operational adjustments.

== Major platforms ==
=== Market leaders ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Platform
!User base (2023)
!Key features
|-
|[[Dream11]]
|130+ million
|[[Cricket]], football, [[NBA]]
|-
|[[Mobile Premier League]] (MPL)
|99+ million
|Multi-game platform
|-
|My11Circle
|50+ million
|Cricket-focused
|-
|Gamezy
|30+ million
|Multiple sports
|-
|Vision11
|20+ million
|Cricket, football
|}

=== Market share ===
Dream11 has an approximate 55% [[market share]], MPL a ~15% share, and other companies share the remaining ~30% of the market.{{When|date=August 2025}}

== Challenges ==
=== Legal issues ===
* State-level [[regulatory compliance]]
* GST implementation disputes
* [[Age verification system|Age verification mechanisms]]
* [[Consumer protection]] measures
* [[Payment gateway]] restrictions

=== Court cases ===
* Tamil Nadu's appeal against fantasy sports{{When|date=August 2025}}
* GST classification disputes
* State [[jurisdiction]] challenges
* Consumer protection petitions

== Advertising guidelines ==
In November 2020, the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Information and Broadcasting Ministry]]'s [[Advertising Standards Council of India]] (ASCI) created guidelines for fantasy gaming apps doing business in India, such as:<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sandhu |first1=Veenu |last2=Munjal |first2=Dhruv |date=2020-11-24 |title=Ctrl-Alt-Del: Advertising council to misleading online gaming ads |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/ctrl-alt-del-advertising-councilto-misleading-online-gaming-ads-120112400006_1.html |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=[[Business Standard]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
*Fantasy apps must not permit persons under 18 to play,
*Every fantasy gaming app ad must showcase a [[disclaimer]] occupying 20% of the ad's space,
*Ads should not promote online gaming as an income opportunity,
*No ads should suggest that players are more successful than non-players.
The disclaimer must state "This game involves an element of financial risk and may be addictive. Please play responsibly and at your own risk."

== Criticism ==
=== User experiences ===
In 2019, a person claimed in an article published by ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]'' that he lost ₹50,000 in just two games on [[Dream11]], arguing that outcomes were based on [[Game of chance|chance]] rather than skill.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=14 May 2019 |title=Dream11: 'Skill? Rubbish. It's Sophisticated Gambling', Says A Loser |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/dream11-skill-rubbish-its-sophisticated-gambling-says-a-loser/301585 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405084055/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/dream11-skill-rubbish-its-sophisticated-gambling-says-a-loser/301585 |archive-date=2023-04-05 |access-date=4 April 2023 |website=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Video games in India]]
* [[Online gaming in India]]
* [[Sports betting]]
* [[Indian Premier League]]

== References ==
{{Portal bar|India|Gaming|2010s|Sports|Business}}
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Sport in India|Fantasy]]
[[Category:2017 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Gaming organizations]]
[[Category:Fantasy sports websites]]

Fantasy sports in India - Revision history

Haresh Kathrotiya: Starting new info...