India’s Parliament passed the Online Gaming Bill 2025, with only presidential assent needed to become law. On August 21st, Dream11 paused operations. Four days later, cricket tournaments across Europe went dark.
The European Cricket Network (ECN) – the organization that turned Europe into cricket’s fastest-growing region – suspended all operations on August 25th. Their primary sponsor, Dream11, had paused all paid contests that generated over 90% of its revenue.
ECN built Europe’s cricket infrastructure from nothing. They organized events on 330 days in 2023 alone, hosting 1,700 matches across 16 countries. What started as a tournament with 8 European clubs and 16 matches grew into a network spanning multiple continents, with over 1,800 televised games in 2024.
Now 10,500 players across 55 cities have lost their development pathway. European cricket boards that relied on ECN funding face an uncertain future.
The Funding Model That Worked
ECN’s model was simple but effective. Each host country earned around €10,000 per tournament – crucial funding for cricket development outside traditional strongholds. Over six years, ECN distributed over €2 million in hosting fees to European cricket boards.
This wasn’t charity. ECN created a continental ecosystem where amateur players could compete regularly, national boards gained revenue, and cricket found new audiences. Countries like Germany, France, and Italy built their cricket programs around ECN tournaments.
That funding stopped overnight.
ECN founder Daniel Weston called the situation “devastating,” warning that European cricket “risks being pushed back 20 years.” Without ECN’s tournaments, many European cricket boards lose their primary revenue source.
How One Bill Broke Global Sports Funding
India’s Online Gaming Bill targets the revenue engine of fantasy sports. Real-money gaming accounts for 86% of India’s $3.7 billion online gaming market. The bill effectively bans paid fantasy contests once it receives presidential assent.
Dream11’s business model collapsed instantly. The company held sponsorship contracts worth hundreds of millions across continents – from the Caribbean Premier League to Australia’s Big Bash League. Their retreat creates funding gaps worldwide.
European cricket became dependent on revenue streams controlled by regulators thousands of miles away. One legislative session in Mumbai ended cricket development across an entire continent.
What Happens Next
Fantasy sports platforms became essential infrastructure for sports development in emerging markets. When regulators eliminate their business models, entire continental programs collapse.
ECN hopes to complete their 2025 tournament schedule and find replacement sponsors. But the timeline is tight. Without major funding secured soon, they’ll cut operations to a fraction of current levels.
The broader lesson is uncomfortable: global sports development now depends on regulatory decisions in distant countries. European cricket boards built their growth strategies around Indian fantasy sports revenue.
One bill in Mumbai proved how fragile that foundation was. European cricket won’t be the last sport to learn this lesson.