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Fantasy Sports Platforms; Redefining the Way India Engages With Sports
Phones light up across India as the clock strikes match time. What was once an experience confined to stadiums and television screens has now entered pockets, palms, and everyday conversations. In a country where cricket, kabaddi, and football already enjoy fervent followings, fantasy sports platforms have added an entirely new layer of participation where fans are no longer just watching the game but becoming active strategists, team owners, and, occasionally, prize winners.
Over the last few years, fantasy sports platforms like ‘Dream 11’, ‘My 11 Circle’, and ‘MPL’ have redefined how Indians engage with sports. Strategy meets fandom as users pick virtual teams made up of real players, earn points based on live match performances, and, depending on their rankings, win cash prizes. What began as a niche gaming category has exploded into a multi-billion-dollar industry, deeply interwoven with India’s sporting culture.
A Nation Hooked on Fantasy
It is 7:05 PM. The office is thinning out, but for many, the real game is just about to begin. Phones buzz with alerts, toss updates, last-minute injuries, and weather reports. As the players step onto the pitch, fantasy team owners across the country finalize their virtual squads, agonizing over every pick.
The mechanics are simple but addictive: assemble a team within a budget, select a captain and vice-captain for bonus points, and hope that real-life performances align with your selections. Entry fees range from a modest ₹30 to ₹100 or more, and with millions participating, prize pools can climb into crores.
While cricket leads the charge, fantasy leagues for football, kabaddi, basketball, and even volleyball are finding footholds. For many players, contests have turned even midweek matches into events of personal significance, transforming passive spectators into deeply invested strategists.
From Small Towns to Stadiums: Odisha Joins the League
The fantasy sports boom is not limited to metropolitan cities. In Odisha, across Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, and smaller towns, the fantasy gaming culture has taken root. Groups of friends meet over evening tea to swap tips, while office teams create mini-leagues that carry bragging rights and occasional cash prizes.
Among these thousands of players is Sudarshan Patra, a 28-year-old IT professional from Bhubaneswar’s Patia area. Patra was not a regular on fantasy sports apps when he first downloaded ‘My 11 Circle' out of curiosity. "I just wanted to try it out for fun," he recalls. On only his second attempt, he won a staggering ₹10,00,000.
His strategy, he admits, relied more on instinct than analysis. “Honestly, it was 90% luck and 10% cricket knowledge,” Patra says with a smile. Yet his story highlights the dual nature of fantasy sports: while big wins are possible, they are rare and often as much about luck as skill.
Patra also reflects the broader sentiment among users. "Fantasy apps add excitement to the match. But if someone becomes addicted or thinks it's a guaranteed way to earn money, that's dangerous," he warns. His experience serves as a reminder of both the allure and the risks inherent in this new form of fandom.
Across Odisha, similar stories play out daily students using winnings to offset tuition costs, professionals funding weekend getaways, and YouTubers building audiences with daily fantasy picks and predictions.
The Big League: Platforms and Prize Pools
The major players in India's fantasy sports space have capitalized on this nationwide engagement. Dream11, with more than 160 million users as of 2024, boasts endorsements from celebrities like Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Rohit Sharma, and Hardik Pandya. My11Circle responds with cricketing legends like Sourav Ganguly and upcoming stars like Shubman Gill and Rinku Singh.
The financial model is straightforward: users pay entry fees, platforms take a service charge typically around 20% and distribute the rest as winnings. A ₹50 entry contest with a million participants generates ₹5 crore, making it possible to award life-changing prizes daily.
Beyond entry fees, platforms generate additional revenue through brand partnerships, advertisements, and in-app purchases. It’s a profitable ecosystem, though one where only a small fraction of participants win consistently.
The Legality Game
Fantasy sports occupy a legally grey space in India. Rooted in the distinction between "games of skill" and "games of chance," fantasy platforms have survived legal scrutiny thanks to multiple court rulings affirming their skill-based nature.
Nevertheless, challenges remain. States like Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana have imposed bans, citing concerns over gambling and youth addiction. Odisha, so far, has not issued an outright ban, but regulatory discussions continue to surface periodically.
Without a unified national policy, the sector remains at the mercy of state interpretations. This ongoing uncertainty has created a fragile, yet dynamic, operational environment for fantasy sports companies.
The Future: Caught Between Regulation and Revolution
With the sector’s explosive growth has come increased scrutiny. The Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) promotes self-regulation urging platforms to include age restrictions, responsible gaming messaging, and transparent disclaimers.
However, financial pressures have intensified. In 2023, the government imposed a 28% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on contest entry fees. While larger companies absorbed the blow, smaller startups struggled, leading to a consolidation of the market.
Despite these hurdles, the appeal remains strong. Fantasy sports have fostered a new generation of fans who dive into player analytics, pitch reports, and form guides with the enthusiasm of seasoned scouts. Ancillary industries from YouTubers offering team-building advice to Telegram groups sharing predictions have flourished around this growing culture.
The future of fantasy gaming in India may lie somewhere between greater regulation and deeper integration into the mainstream sporting economy.
Just One More Match
As the match heads into its final over, users across India nervously refresh leaderboards. A boundary changes everything; a catch dropped can crush hopes. Sometimes, like in Sudarshan Patra’s case, a lucky lineup strikes gold. Most days, the rewards are smaller bragging rights, modest winnings, or just the satisfaction of a game well-played.
Tomorrow, there will be another toss. Another team to assemble. Another shot at victory in the virtual stadiums that now rival the real ones for India’s sporting attention.
Disclaimer: While this story highlights the rising popularity of fantasy sports platforms, we do not promote or endorse such apps. Fantasy gaming can be addictive and financially harmful. Participation is at your own discretion and risk. Please play responsibly.
