Fantasy Cricket Apps in India in 2026: What's Legal After the Real-Money Ban
Paid fantasy cricket for cash is now banned in India under the Online Gaming Act 2025. Dream11, MPL, My11Circle and Howzat stopped real-money contests. Here's what changed, the legal position and how to play fantasy cricket free.
Fantasy cricket in India changed completely in 2025. Apps like Dream11, MPL and My11Circle used to let you pay an entry fee and win cash. That is no longer allowed. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 banned all online money games, including paid fantasy sports, and it has been fully in force since 1 May 2026.
Quick answer: in November 2026, no fantasy cricket app can legally offer paid, cash-prize contests in India. Dream11, MPL, My11Circle, Howzat and others stopped real-money contests in August 2025. You can still play fantasy cricket legally on free-to-play formats: Dream11 now runs free contests with sponsor-backed rewards, MPL offers free, non-money games, and official tournament fantasy games are free to enter. Avoid any app or website that still asks you to deposit money to win cash; it is operating illegally, and many of these are scams.
What the Online Gaming Act 2025 says
Passed and signed: Parliament passed the Act on 21 August 2025, and it received Presidential assent on 22 August 2025.
In force: the Act and the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 came into force on 1 May 2026. The Rules were notified on 22 April 2026.
What's banned: offering any online money game, meaning a game where you pay or deposit money expecting to win money or other stakes. It doesn't matter whether the game is based on skill or chance, so paid fantasy cricket is covered.
Advertising and payments: advertising online money games is banned, and banks and payment apps can be directed to stop processing payments for them.
Penalties: running an online money game can lead to up to three years in prison and a fine of up to ₹1 crore. The law targets operators, advertisers and payment facilitators rather than ordinary players.
What's allowed and promoted: e-sports (which must register with the new Online Gaming Authority of India) and online social games, meaning free games or games without money stakes.
Is the ban being challenged in court?
Yes. Gaming companies challenged the Act in several High Courts, and in September 2025 the Supreme Court moved all these cases to itself. The matter has since been sent to a three-judge bench. As of the latest reports in autumn 2026, the Supreme Court has not struck down or paused the ban, so it remains the law. Separately, on 27 May 2026 the Supreme Court ruled in a GST case that real-money online games, including fantasy sports, attract 28% GST on the full deposit amount, which adds to the pressure on the old business model.
Earlier court rulings had treated fantasy sports as a game of skill, which is why paid fantasy apps were legal for years. The 2025 Act made that distinction irrelevant for games played for money.
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Status of popular fantasy cricket apps in 2026
App | Paid cash contests? | What changed |
Dream11 | No, stopped in August 2025 | Moved to free-to-play contests with ads and sponsor-backed prizes; repositioning as a "second-screen" sports app alongside FanCode streaming |
MPL (Mobile Premier League) | No, stopped in August 2025 | Shut its India real-money business; says it will keep offering free, non-money games in India |
My11Circle | No, stopped in August 2025 | Halted cash contests; users were allowed to withdraw remaining balances |
Howzat | No | Owner Flutter (Junglee Games) paused real-money operations in India |
Probo's Team 11 | No | Shut along with Probo's opinion-trading app |
Other real-money fantasy apps (MyTeam11, BalleBaazi, Vision11, PlayerzPot and similar) | Not legally allowed | Any app still taking entry fees for cash prizes in India would be breaking the Act; check each app's current terms before using it |
When the apps shut paid contests in August 2025, they let users withdraw their deposits and winnings. Bonus cash and promotional credits were not refundable. If you still have money stuck in an old app, use its in-app support or grievance option.
Legal ways to play fantasy cricket in India now
1. Free-to-play contests on fantasy apps
Dream11 and some other apps now run free contests. You still pick 11 players, choose a captain and vice-captain, and score points from real match performance. Instead of entry fees, these apps earn from advertising and sponsors, and some offer prizes funded by brands. Free contests with no deposit fall outside the definition of an online money game.
2. Official tournament fantasy games
Major tournaments have traditionally run their own free fantasy leagues, such as the official IPL fantasy game and ICC fantasy games for World Cups. They are free to enter and are run by the organisers, so check the tournament's official website or app when the event begins.
3. Private leagues with friends
Most free-to-play fantasy formats let you create a private league and play with friends for bragging rights. This keeps the fun of fantasy cricket without any money at stake.
How to spot an illegal or unsafe fantasy app
It asks you to deposit money to join a contest for cash prizes.
It's not on the Play Store or App Store and asks you to download an APK from a website, Telegram or WhatsApp link.
It promises guaranteed winnings or "100% sure teams" in exchange for a fee.
It's run from abroad and pays out through personal UPI IDs or crypto.
These platforms are illegal in India, and you have little protection if they refuse to pay or misuse your data. If you lose money to one, report it at the national cybercrime helpline 1930.
Also read: IPL 2025 Schedule and Results: Dates, Venues, Playoffs and Final (Plus IPL 2026 and 2027)
How to pick a good free fantasy cricket app
Free entry, no deposit. The contest should be genuinely free.
Clear scoring rules for runs, wickets, catches and captain multipliers.
Good match coverage, including the IPL, international cricket and domestic leagues you follow.
Live scores and player stats to help you pick your team.
A trustworthy company with a clear privacy policy and grievance contact.
Verdict
The "best fantasy cricket app in India" list that used to rank apps by prize pools is now out of date. Paid fantasy cricket for cash is banned in India, and the big names have switched to free formats. If you love fantasy cricket, play the free contests on established apps like Dream11, try the official tournament fantasy games, and stay away from anything that asks for a deposit.
Want to sharpen your cricket knowledge for team selection? Follow the best analysts in our list of the top cricket content creators on YouTube.
FAQs
Are fantasy cricket apps legal in India in 2026?
Free-to-play fantasy cricket is legal. Paid fantasy contests, where you deposit money to win cash, are banned under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which has been in force since 1 May 2026.
Can I still win money on Dream11?
Not through paid contests; Dream11 stopped them in August 2025. It now runs free contests, and some may offer sponsor-funded prizes, but you can no longer pay an entry fee to win cash.
Which is the best fantasy cricket app in India now?
Dream11 is still the biggest fantasy cricket app, now running free-to-play contests. Official tournament fantasy games are also a good free option during major events.
Is MPL fantasy cricket still available?
MPL shut its real-money gaming business in India in August 2025 and says it continues to offer free, non-money games to Indian users.
Will the fantasy cricket ban be lifted?
The Act has been challenged in the Supreme Court, and a three-judge bench is hearing the case. Until the court rules otherwise, the ban stays in place.
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