Fantasy sports 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. , the sector was valued at approximately with over 180 million active users. On August 21, 2025, Indian government banned all fantasy sports games and other real money-based online games as they were considered online gambling.
India has numerous fantasy gaming mobile applications that allow users to create virtual teams for various sports. The 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, celebrity endorsements, and advertising campaigns.
According to a 2022 NITI Aayog report, the industry is expected to attract â¹10,000 crore (â¹100 billion) in foreign direct investment, and reach a market value of â¹50,000 crore (â¹500 billion) and expand to 200 million users or more by 2025.
On August 21, 2025, Indian government banned all fantasy sports games and other real money-based online games as they were considered online gambling.
On 8 August 2021, the Supreme Court of India officially declared fantasy sports legal, classifying them as games of skill rather than gambling.
Several 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. In April 2019 the Bombay High Court recognized fantasy sports as a legitimate skill-based industry. The Kerala High Court determined fantasy sports as games of skill under section 14(A) of the Kerala Gaming Act in February 2022.
, states fall into three categories:
, key tax reforms related to fantasy sports include:
Tax changes have led to decreased user participation and a reduction of 20âÂÂ25% in industry revenue. This has in turn generated market consolidation trends and platform operational adjustments.
Dream11 has an approximate 55% market share, MPL a ~15% share, and other companies share the remaining ~30% of the market.
In November 2020, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry's Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) created guidelines for fantasy gaming apps doing business in India, such as:
The disclaimer must state "This game involves an element of financial risk and may be addictive. Please play responsibly and at your own risk."
In 2019, a person claimed in an article published by Outlook that he lost â¹50,000 in just two games on Dream11, arguing that outcomes were based on chance rather than skill.