IPL 2020 Sponsors Dream 11 Face Setback As Andhra Pradesh Bans Online Games Involving Money

Dream 11 acquired sponsorship for IPL 2020 for INR 222 crore from the parent body of the lucrative tournament. The fantasy game, which involves real money, has however faced a setback with Andhra Pradesh government banning all online games which uses the national currency as a medium to access it.

Andhra Pradesh is not the first state to ban such online games. Telangana had earlier taken similar steps as users involved in fantasy gaming often used real money in abundance without understanding its outcome. A Delhi based lawyer said that the ordinance taken by the Andhra government is a result of the growing socio-economic problems arising from online betting activities.

“The Andhra Pradesh Ordinance, which has criminalised any and all kinds of online betting and wagering, is a response to the growing socio-economic problems arising from online betting activities. Most states are yet to have any kind of response to these activities, and therefore the ordinance is welcome,” Delhi-based lawyer Siddharth Iyer was quoted as saying by Outlook.

“While banning these activities strictly may not be the best way to tackle the problem, it is certainly better than letting them run in an unregulated manner, as is the position, in most of the larger states in India,” pointed out Iyer.

Dream 11 have involved cricketers like former India captain MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma for its advertisement during the IPL 2020. Their is no statement or comment from the IPL 2020 sponsors on the impact it will face due to the ban imposed by the Andhra Pradesh government.

IPL 2020 will be played entirely in UAE due to the pandemic situation forcing the cricket board to host the tournament away from India. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah will be the three venues used for the tournament.