Cricket economy struck hard by real money gaming ban

The exit of Dream11 as the jersey sponsor of the Indian team is just a fragment in a large ecosystem dominated by the fantasy gaming industry.

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The BCCI, traditionally a glue to the corporates and advertisers, will likely bounce back soon enough may even onboard a sponsor by next fortnight itself when the Asia Cup starts. But the ripple effect of the government's decision to ban real money gaming will be felt across the landscape, as these were its chief oxygen supplier. For the cricketers too.

Gaming companies have been among the biggest spenders on advertising and endorsements, and cricketers will be among the most affected by the government's latest decision. Almost every Indian cricketer seen on television and holding an IPL contract has a tie-up with the real-money gaming firms. From Virat Kohli to Rahul Chahar, virtually every player was associated with them and those sponsorship deals will now be off the table.

Players such as Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and the Pandya brothers - Hardik and Krunal - were contracted to Dream11, while Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh and even Sourav Ganguly endorsed My11 Circle, the other major player in the real-money gaming market. Virat Kohli was linked to MPL, while MS Dhoni endorsed Winzo both gaming firms that now stand to lose their marquee brand ambassadors and vice versa.