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If your teenager picks a fantasy team before every IPL match and pays to enter, the law has changed. A government backgrounder from PIB says Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill on 21 August 2025. The same document lists "fantasy sports offering cash rewards" among the things the law prohibits. Free leagues with no money involved are a different thing; this guide is about the paid kind.
Is fantasy cricket for money legal for teenagers in India?
No, and it isn't legal for adults either. The text of the Act defines an online money game as one played by paying fees or depositing money "in expectation of winning", whether it is based on skill, chance or both. The Act bans offering such games and advertising them, and bars banks and payment services from processing money for them.
The penalties fall on the people who offer, advertise or process payments for these games, not on players. A PIB note on the rules says offering one can bring up to three years in prison, a fine of up to ₹1 crore, or both. The rules came into force on 1 May 2026, and the safety features they require include age verification, age gating, time restrictions and parental controls. Challenges to the Act were still pending before the Supreme Court at the last update we could find.
Dream11 ended all paid contests and switched to free-to-play in August 2025. MediaNama reported a Lok Sabha answer showing that 8,376 betting and gambling URLs had been blocked or acted against by 28 March 2026. An app that ignores Indian law is unlikely to stop a 16-year-old and could vanish with their balance.
Why are paid fantasy apps risky for a teen?
The maths works against the average player. The callout below shows how.
It rides on cricket, which is everywhere. The WHO fact sheet on gambling warns that heavy promotion of gambling online and through sport risks "normalizing gambling for children and young people".
Coins can still be money. The Act counts credits, coins and tokens as stakes when they are bought with money and treated as equivalent or convertible to money.
These are example numbers, not any real app's. If your teen enjoys the numbers side of cricket, our guide to learning basic statistics with cricket puts that interest to better use. The Fermi Concept Library also has a lesson on every concept in mathematics, so they can follow up on expected value and probability.
What are the signs that it has become a problem?
The WHO describes gambling disorder using three features from ICD-11: losing control over gambling, putting it ahead of other activities, and carrying on despite harm. That needs a professional, but at home you can watch for everyday versions:
UPI payments to names you don't recognise, or money missing from a wallet
borrowing from friends or siblings, or selling their things
moods that rise and fall with fantasy points rather than with the match itself
staying up for late matches and struggling to get up for school
deleted apps, second accounts or a VPN you didn't set up
saying "I'll win it back"
One sign is a reason to talk. If you see several for weeks, get help. Tele MANAS, the government's free mental-health helpline, is on 14416 or 1-800-891-4416. If money was taken through fraud, report it on the 1930 helpline or the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.
How do I talk to my teen about fantasy apps?
Pick a calm moment, not the minute after a loss, and adapt this script:
Start with curiosity: "Lots of your friends play fantasy cricket. Which apps are people using now?"
Share facts, not a verdict: "Since May 2026, apps that take money and pay out cash are banned in India. The ones still doing it are breaking the law."
Do the maths together using the ₹49 example.
Ask without accusing: "Have you put money in? Roughly how much? I'm asking so we can sort it out, not to punish you."
Agree a plan and write it down.
If they admit to losses, thank them for telling you. Shame makes hiding more likely. Our piece on UPI rules for teenagers explains how to set up payments so you can see what goes out.
What app controls actually help?
Controls support the conversation; they don't replace it.
Google Play approvals: with Family Link purchase approvals, you can choose "All content", so even free downloads need your yes.
One payment route: keep their UPI linked to a small balance you top up, and check the history together weekly.
Match-night limits: agree phone-free hours on school nights. See our guide for when a child plays mobile games after midnight.
Free leagues only: a free league with friends keeps the fun without the money.
A monthly check-in: spend ten minutes on apps, spending and any worries.
Tonight, start with step 1 of the script and turn on purchase approvals before the next match.
