The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) have announced a significant multiyear extension of their collaboration with the fantasy sports giant Dream11, aimed at enhancing the presence of basketball in India.
Under this renewed partnership, Dream11 will continue its role as the official fantasy gaming partner of both the NBA and WNBA in the country. This collaboration originated during the 2017-18 basketball season when the NBA launched its inaugural official fantasy game in India through Dream11.
Through this alliance, Indian fans will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of NBA and WNBA-themed fantasy contests hosted daily on the Dream11 platform. Users can assemble their virtual teams comprising NBA or WNBA players and earn points based on the real-life performances of these players on the court. The platform will offer both free and paid contests, catering to a wide range of preferences among users.
Rajah Chaudhry, NBA India Country Head, expressed excitement about the growing engagement in the Indian market, stating, “With India being one of the fastest-growing markets in the world for fantasy gaming, strengthening our presence in this space has been a key focus for us over the last few years.”
As reported by Money Control, Chaudhry added, “We have seen a significant increase in fan engagement since the launch of our official fantasy game on Dream11, and as we embark on this continued journey together, we look forward to pushing the boundaries of innovation in fantasy gaming and providing fans with even more exciting ways to connect with the NBA and WNBA.”
Vikrant Mudaliar, Chief Marketing Officer at Dream11, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the commitment to enhancing basketball excitement for users. He stated, “As we extend our collaboration with the NBA and WNBA, we’re committed to taking the excitement of basketball to new heights for our users. This association underscores our dedication to the sport while also highlighting the limitless possibilities in the world of fantasy gaming.”
Dream11 has a massive user base of over 200 million players engaged in fantasy contests across various sports, including cricket, football, kabaddi, basketball, hockey, and volleyball, among others.
However, recent concerns have arisen regarding a substantial show cause notice issued to Dream Sports, the parent company of Dream11, alleging goods and services tax (GST) evasion and non-payment of 28 percent GST on the face value of bets, amounting to over Rs 28,000 crore. Additionally, the Indian government’s imposition of a 28 percent GST regime on the real-money gaming sector, effective from October 1, 2023, is expected to impact the revenues and profitability of companies operating in the sector. This move has prompted the company’s auditor to flag “a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern.”