Dream11 Expands Into the US, UK, and Additional Countries Despite Ban in India

Dream11, a prominent fantasy sports platform in India, is broadening its international presence by launching operations in 11 additional countries, including significant markets like the United States and the United Kingdom.

This global expansion comes after a tumultuous period for the company, which faced challenges following a nationwide ban on all real-money gaming applications in India, enforced by the government in early 2025. The new legislation, implemented in August with the «Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025,» prohibits any games that involve real-money transactions. This ruling compelled Dream11 to cease its paid contests in India, which were a crucial source of revenue for the business.

Harsh Jain, co-founder of Dream11, highlighted the significant repercussions of the ban: «95 percent of the company’s revenues and all of its profits were tied to the previous model of cash-based contests, now banned under the new regulations.» Consequently, Dream11 was left with no alternative but to thoroughly reassess its business strategy.

With the global relaunch, Dream11 is now implementing a free-to-play model in countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, UAE, New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. In these regions, the platform operates free from real-money entry fees, concentrating on user engagement and community involvement. Instead of relying on user payments, Dream11 is generating income through advertising and partnerships with recognized brands.

Dream11 will maintain its free-to-play approach after expanding into new markets.

Vikrant Mudaliar, who oversees marketing for Dream11’s parent company, Dream Sports, noted that this shift creates new partnership opportunities. «Many brands have shown great interest in collaborating with Dream11 over the years, and our transition to free-to-play fantasy sports has allowed us to start onboarding them strategically,» he mentioned. The company’s new strategy seeks to establish a sustainable, ad-supported environment that serves fans while avoiding the pitfalls of real-money gambling.

Harsh Jain expressed his enthusiasm for Dream11’s global ambitions: «We’ve recognized tremendous enthusiasm among sports enthusiasts across different regions. Our goal is to provide a safe, skill-based, and enjoyable platform for fans everywhere.» With over 200 million registered users, Dream11 is among the most recognized fantasy sports brands globally and views this international expansion as a vital step towards becoming a leading force in worldwide markets.

Founded in 2008 by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth, Dream11 has become one of India’s most notable tech success stories. Following an $840 million funding round in 2021, the company was valued at $8 billion, and its parent company Dream Sports also operates other brands such as FanCode, DreamSetGo, and Dream Money. Although the Indian government’s stringent regulations have affected its primary business model, Dream11’s swift adaptation to a global free-to-play framework demonstrates its resilience and agility.

Entering 11 new countries signifies a pivotal moment for Dream11. By prioritizing advertising-driven fantasy sports and moving away from real-money gaming, the company seeks to secure its future while presenting its unique fantasy sports experience to a broader international audience.