Shifting Regulatory Winds and the BCCI + Dream11 Split: 4 Key Takeaways for Rights Holders, Advertisers & Agencies

The recent regulatory overhaul relating to sports betting in India has triggered the high-profile and abrupt termination of fantasy sports platform Dream11’s shirt sponsorship deal with BCCI, worth INR 358 crore (circa US$40m), leaving the Indian cricket team without a title sponsor just ahead of a major tournament.

This is due to the newly-introduced Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which bans real-money gaming - Dream11's core business.

This development is a timely wake-up call for rights holders, advertisers, and agencies operating in dynamic markets. Here’s what to look out for when negotiating such contracts for events and brands to stay ahead of the game:

1. Check Your Force Majeure Clauses
Always review contracts to ensure regulatory and legislative changes (and changes to enforcement practices) are covered as force majeure events. Clarify the impact on each party’s obligations and check for clear rights to renegotiate or terminate if the contract is frustrated, ensuring your interests are protected during market shifts.

2. Go Beyond Force Majeure: Negotiate Specific Regulatory Clauses
It’s essential to include tailored provisions dealing explicitly with regulatory or legislative risks, not just generic FM references. Such clauses should cover value renegotiations (with a fallback to ADR/expert determinations), territory carve-outs, suspension, or even termination rights if laws change.

3. Assess Extra-Territorial Impact
Some country’s betting regulations can apply beyond national borders giving rise to additional enforcement risks. In the current example of India, consider their effect on events staged abroad but broadcast in India. Pitch-side advertising, broadcast sponsors, title sponsors, and even virtual overlays targeting Indian viewers could fall under these restrictions. Take advice where necessary.

4. Seek Specialist Support to Protect Revenues and Stay Compliant
Expert guidance is critical, given the fast-moving changes in betting, casino, crypto, fantasy, and ad tech. Agencies, broadcasters, and rights holders increasingly need to react rapidly and restructure deals where necessary.

Staying agile and contractually robust is the only way to keep your events and brands ahead of the game.

The team at Level has decades of experience supporting stakeholders in managing both risk and opportunity, especially as new laws and advertising technologies redefine what’s possible in the sports media and advertising ecosystem.