The tremors of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill (2025) are being felt by fantasy sports apps and their stakeholders. In an effort to curb gambling and to shield India's thriving youth from its negative impact, the Indian government passed the new gambling bill. This new bill forbids anyone from playing RMG (real money gambling games) such as Poker, Rummi, Teenpatti, and fantasy app games like Dream11 & My11Circle. Moreover, endorsing such brands via any form of advertisement can also attract harsh fines and arduous labour behind bars. 

The introduction of this new bill has taken Dream11, India's official title sponsor, by storm. Not only does it have to sever ties with the BCCI, but it also has to cope with an additional blow on the international stage. It is believed that Dream11 is in talks to end sponsorship with European Cricket (ECN) due to the new law, which bans online money gaming. Although the introduction of the new bill may not have a direct impact on ECN, the withdrawal of their key sponsor, Dream11, will plunge the league into an unprecedented state of financial uncertainty. 

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💔 pic.twitter.com/rllPK7f5Fk

— European Cricket (@EuropeanCricket) August 24, 2025

Examining the Bill's Impact: Unpacking the Consequences for ECN

As briefly explained above, the ECN has not been directly impacted by this latest legislation from the Indian government, but its stakeholders have. Their most crucial stakeholder, Dream11, has come under heavy scrutiny under this new gambling bill, which outlaws all forms of gambling/betting. As a result, Dream11, whose main USP primarily revolves around gambling, has to shut down or change its mode of business overnight to stay competitive in the market. 

This development will have a direct consequence on ECN as it will no longer be entitled to receive a galloping chunk of funds, which it happily used to receive from Dream11. This can, in turn, affect the quality of the game in Europe, a place where the game is trying to attain a solid foothold. Moreover, the Associate cricketing nations from Europe also relied on funding from Dream11 for their daily survival. But in present times, their privilege has been snatched and the ECN was left with no option but to pause their coverage until further notice. 

Needless to say, this shocking development has left many cricket lovers worried, including ECN's founder, Daniel Weston, who alleged that European Cricket will get dragged 20 years back in time if a new sponsor fails to step in a timely manner to fill the void. Following the exit of Dream11, the ECN is working around the clock to find an able sponsor to continue its operations, but faces the reality of drastic scaling back without immediate financial support.

The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), co-owned by Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, has been postponed until 2026. The ICC-approved annual T20 franchise tournament was originally planned to take place from July 15 to August 3.

The six-team tournament, approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on November 27 last year, is a major collaboration between the cricket boards of Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands. Its goal is to promote and develop European cricket worldwide.

The organisers made this decision after consulting closely with important people from cricket, business, and media. The first edition of the ETPL, which will be held under the joint support of Cricket Ireland, Cricket Netherlands, and Cricket Scotland, was scheduled from July 15 to August 3.

The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) will officially launch in 2026 following unanimous approval by the Board. This decision comes after extensive talks with key people from cricket, business, and media,” Cricket Ireland said.

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“The initial 2025 window for the tournament provided a solid foundation, but discussions with interested franchisees, broadcasters, sponsors, and governing bodies made it clear that 2026 offers the best chance for ETPL to succeed,” it added.

It is reported that the three potential ETPL franchise owners, who are also investing in The Hundred, chose to focus on those deals first, leading to the league’s postponement.

“We are building for the long term. With the right partners, capital, and support across the board, 2026 gives us the ideal runway to launch a league that is professional, competitive, and long-lasting. With the support of Rules Sport Tech and the national boards of Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, ETPL is shaping up to be a powerful new force in global cricket,” said Warren Deutrom, Chairman of ETPL.

🚨EUROPEAN T20 PREMIER LEAGUE 🚨

The European T20 Premier League will officially launch in 2026. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/QutKhW6Dcx

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 7, 2025

What Was the Reason for Postponing ETPL?

According to a Cricbuzz report, the ETPL statement said, “The initial period of 2025 provided a solid foundation, but conversations with franchise aspirants, broadcasters, sponsors, and governing bodies made it clear that 2026 would give the league the best chance to succeed.” The report notes that the potential owners are busy with the Hundred tournament and could not commit to ETPL in 2025.

Where Were the ETPL Matches to Be Held?

Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam were chosen to host the ETPL matches. The league’s promotion is led by Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan. It is also supported by a Delhi-based Indian company and was approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC).