Why India’s fantasy sports market is booming despite legal clouds looming over industry

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) in full swing and ten teams battling it out across 13 cities, there’s another fierce competition unfolding. This one’s happening on screens, not stadiums. Say hello to the booming world of fantasy sports in the country. Fueled by the IPL’s ever-growing popularity, India’s fantasy gaming industry is said to be on fire, and experts say it’s only the beginning.

According to Roland Landers, CEO of All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), the sector is set for a major boost, with projections showing a 25% to 30% jump from 2024. That puts expected earnings for IPL 2025 in the range of a staggering $500 to $525 million.

@aigfofficial also welcomes the move to have @IndiaSports regulate esports as part of multi sports events. Will help in recognition of an India #Esports process for selection of #India teams for international events like #AsianGames & also lead to opportunities for our #players.

— Roland Landers (@rolandlanders) December 27, 2022

Markets and Data reports that the industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% between 2024 and 2031. It’s projected to soar from $751 million in 2023 to an impressive $3,423.54 million by 2031.

At the end of March, we reported a sharp spike in activity on Blask, an analytics platform that tracks player interest and market trends.

Its key metric, the Blask Index, jumped from 1.60 million on March 21 to 2.39 million just a day later as the IPL season kicked off on March 22.

While that’s just a one-day snapshot, this surge is part of a consistent pattern seen in Blask Index data, which has shown similar spikes on IPL opening days from 2017 through 2025.

India’s fantasy sports scene has exploded in recent years, and it’s not just by chance. A big reason is the country’s massive smartphone user base, which is over 650 million people and counting, according to IDC. That makes India the second-largest smartphone market in the world, just behind China. With nearly half the population now owning smartphones, fantasy sports have become easier than ever to access. With 65% of India’s population under the age of 35, there’s a built-in enthusiasm for digital platforms and gaming.

Then came the pandemic. It disrupted live sports for a while, which naturally slowed down fantasy games. But companies pivoted quickly, introducing virtual sports and fresh content to keep users engaged. Once live sports returned, so did the fantasy players, more enthusiastically than ever.

Cricket, of course, plays a huge role too. With international matches and T20 leagues like the IPL growing rapidly, there’s no shortage of action for fans to follow. The IPL, especially, has been a game-changer. Its quick, high-energy format is perfect for live, interactive fantasy play, and platforms like Dream11 and My11Circle have also tapped into the cricket craze.

If your village had a fantasy league, who’s your go-to captain? Dhoni, Gill, or someone local?
Fantasy cricket apps like Dream11 have caught rural India’s attention bringing cricket one step closer to far-flung regions of the country