New Delhi, February 2026 — The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025, has officially closed the curtains on India’s fantasy gaming era. What was once a juggernaut of “daily winnings” and celebrity-studded advertisements has been replaced by a strictly regulated landscape that prioritizes consumer safety over “skill-based” wagering.
The Death of the “Game of Skill” Loophole
For years, platforms like Dream11, My11Circle, and MPL operated under the legal shield of being “games of skill.” However, the PROG Act 2025 has effectively erased this distinction for any platform involving monetary stakes.
Under the new law, any game involving a deposit for a chance at a monetary prize is classified as an “Online Money Game.” By removing the “skill” defense, the government has imposed a blanket ban on these platforms, citing “predatory design” and “compulsive behavior” that led to widespread financial ruin and mental health crises among India’s youth.
Celebrities in the Crosshairs: End of the “Dream Team” Era
The Act has permanently altered the economics of celebrity endorsements. Previously, icons like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma were the faces of these apps, urging fans to “make their team.”
- Criminal Liability: The 2025 Act makes the promotion of banned money games a criminal offense. Influencers and celebrities now face up to two years in prison and fines of ₹50 lakh for endorsing these platforms.+1
- The Trust Gap: Investigations revealed that most superstar endorsers were under “performance contracts”—they were paid to look like they played the game, but insiders admit few ever engaged with the apps personally.
- Influencer Vacuum: A massive ecosystem of YouTubers and meme pages, who relied on gaming budgets for up to 30% of their revenue, has seen their income dry up overnight.
The ₹2,000 Crore Revenue Hole
The fallout has sent shockwaves through the sports broadcasting industry. During the IPL and World Cups, fantasy ads typically occupied 70–90% of all airtime.
| Industry Segment | Financial Impact |
| Broadcasters (Star/Jio) | Projected loss of ₹2,000 crore in annual ad revenue. |
| IPL Franchises | Multiple teams forced to drop “Principal Sponsors” mid-season. |
| Tax Revenue | Potential annual GST loss of ₹15,000 crore following the ban. |
E-Sports: The New Frontier?
While the Act killed money-based fantasy sports, it has paradoxically opened doors for “Pure E-Sports.” The government now formally recognizes competitive video gaming (where prizes are performance-based, not wager-based) as a legitimate sport under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
Supporters argue this is a necessary “moral reset,” moving India toward a “pure” love of sport where viewership isn’t inflated by financial desperation. Critics, however, warn that the “blanket ban” approach violates the Right to Trade (Article 19(1)(g)) and may drive users toward unregulated offshore “grey market” apps.
Bottom Line
The era of “Apni team banao, jeeto crore” was an economy built on selling hope to the 99% who lost so that the 1% could win. With the PROG Act now in full force, the masks are off: the “skill” was largely in the marketing, and the real winner was always the house.
