A recent report prepared by a group of Indian financial experts has revealed the severe economic impact of the online gaming ban on the country’s top cricketers. The findings show that some of the biggest names in Indian cricket have lost significant annual earnings following the government’s decision to outlaw online gaming promotions.
For years, leading Indian players had been brand ambassadors for popular online gaming platforms, earning lucrative endorsement deals. However, the introduction of the Online Gaming Prohibition Bill has cut off this revenue stream, costing cricketers crores of rupees annually.
Among the hardest hit is India captain Rohit Sharma, who was the face of Dream11. Reports indicate he has lost nearly INR 7 crore (LKR 240 million) in annual income after the ban.
Virat Kohli, another leading figure, is estimated to have lost INR 6 crore (LKR 210 million) from Dream11 promotions, while his involvement with Winzo accounted for a further INR 7 crore (LKR 240 million).
Former captain MS Dhoni and several other retired stars were also earning between INR 1 to 4 crore annually from similar endorsements, all of which have now been wiped out due to the new regulations.
The ban has not only reduced cricketers’ off-field income but also raised concerns about the broader financial impact on India’s sports marketing industry, which had heavily relied on the booming online gaming sector.
