Do Betting Apps Offer Fantasy Sports Features?

India’s digital landscape is booming, and one of the hottest areas riding that wave is online gaming. But there’s a twist—while online betting still walks a tightrope with legality in India, fantasy sports are storming ahead like a cricket ball in full swing.

India’s Digital Gaming Boom

India has rapidly transformed into a digital powerhouse, especially in the realm of mobile gaming. Over the past few years, the explosive combination of affordable smartphones and some of the world’s lowest mobile data prices has created an ideal environment for digital entertainment to thrive. Young people, especially millennials and Gen Z, are leading the charge—constantly connected, gaming, and engaging with apps in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago. This surge has turned India into one of the fastest-growing gaming markets globally, with millions of new users joining monthly.

The country’s obsession with sports—especially cricket and kabaddi—has only fueled this momentum. These sports have seamlessly made their way into mobile gaming through fantasy leagues, e-sports, and interactive sports quizzes. Companies are leveraging this cultural passion to build apps that blend entertainment, competition, and real-money rewards. The result is a booming industry that is not only entertaining but also generating jobs, startups, and investor interest. India’s digital gaming boom is no longer a trend—it’s a revolution.

Key drivers of the gaming boom in India:

• Widespread smartphone penetration
• Ultra-low mobile data costs
• Passion for sports, especially cricket
• Increasing digital literacy and internet access
• Growth of fintech and digital payment systems

What Are Fantasy Sports

Fantasy sports are a unique blend of sports strategy and gaming where users create virtual teams made up of real-life players. These users earn points based on how those players perform in actual matches. It’s not just about cheering for your favorite team anymore—it’s about using data, form, and intuition to create the best team lineup and outscore thousands of other players. It gives users a feeling of control and insight, transforming passive spectators into active participants in the game.

The major difference between fantasy sports and traditional betting lies in the role of skill. Fantasy sports rely heavily on analysis, strategic thinking, and understanding player performance—qualities that Indian courts have recognized as making it a “game of skill” rather than gambling. Traditional betting, on the other hand, is often viewed as a game of chance, where luck plays a dominant role. This distinction has allowed fantasy sports to remain legal and even thrive in India, whereas traditional betting continues to exist in a legal gray area or be outright banned in many states.

Main characteristics of fantasy sports:

• Skill-based team selection
• Real-time performance tracking
• Legally differentiated from gambling in many jurisdictions
• Popular in cricket, football, kabaddi, and basketball
• Offers cash rewards and leaderboard rankings

Growth of Online Betting Platforms in India

Online betting platforms have experienced a significant surge in popularity in India, despite the legal challenges they face. This growth has been driven largely by increasing smartphone access and the public’s growing familiarity with digital transactions. International betting platforms, especially those registered offshore, have aggressively entered the Indian market, customizing their offerings for Indian users with options like local language support, cricket-focused bets, and UPI payments. Simultaneously, some Indian startups are entering the space with more cautious, legally compliant models like token-based gaming or prediction markets.

The appetite for betting-related content continues to grow as Indian users look for more immersive and potentially rewarding experiences. These platforms often offer not just traditional sports betting but also casino games, poker, and even live dealer experiences, accessible from mobile devices. As a result, users now expect more than just static odds—they want live updates, game integration, and social features. The trend clearly shows that despite the regulatory hurdles, the Indian online betting market is far from slowing down and continues to attract new players and investors alike.

Factors fueling the growth of betting platforms:

• Increased interest in real-money gaming
• Rise of international operators targeting Indian users
• Seamless mobile and payment technology integration
• Growing acceptance of online financial transactions
• Cultural acceptance of games involving money and risk

Legal Framework and Regulation

The legal landscape for betting and fantasy sports in India is complex and largely inconsistent. Gambling is considered a state subject, meaning each state can create its own laws on the matter. While most states have strict anti-gambling laws, a few have more relaxed approaches, especially when it comes to games of skill. Fantasy sports, which have been upheld by courts as skill-based activities, are legal in several parts of India, allowing platforms like Dream11 to operate widely. However, traditional betting remains mostly banned, creating a fragmented legal framework that confuses users and operators alike.

To navigate these challenges, many online betting platforms choose to register in jurisdictions outside India, such as Malta, Curacao, or Gibraltar. By doing so, they technically operate outside Indian legal jurisdiction while still marketing their services to Indian users. These apps often use “free-to-play” or “practice games” to appear legal and compliant while offering real-money games through subtle design choices. While fantasy sports have benefited from court rulings and public acceptance, betting platforms walk a fine line between innovation and legality.

Key points on legal and regulatory environment:

• Gambling laws vary by Indian state
• Fantasy sports recognized as games of skill by some courts
• Betting is largely banned under the Public Gambling Act, 1867
• Many platforms operate offshore to avoid legal repercussions
• Regulation remains ambiguous, allowing for loopholes

Fantasy Sports in India

Why Are Fantasy Sports So Popular

Fantasy sports have become a massive trend in India, largely due to the country’s deep-rooted love for sports, especially cricket. When it comes to cricket, Indians are not just fans—they are analysts, strategists, and passionate critics. Fantasy sports allow them to channel this enthusiasm in a productive way. It’s not just about cheering for your favorite team anymore; it’s about taking part in the action. By creating a fantasy team, fans feel more connected to the game and its players, with a sense of involvement in the sport’s outcome. This engagement creates a unique bond, making fans feel like active participants rather than mere spectators.

Furthermore, the thrill of transforming a small investment, like ₹100, into ₹1,000 or more, provides a potent psychological reward. Fantasy sports leverage this excitement by offering cash rewards, ranking systems, and tournaments. Unlike traditional betting, which relies largely on chance, fantasy sports introduce an element of skill—users must research player stats, team performance, and match conditions. This skill-based gameplay creates a sense of accomplishment and adds a layer of satisfaction when users see their team perform well.

Why Fantasy Sports Are Popular in India:

• Engagement: Fans become active participants rather than passive spectators.
• Skill & Strategy: The element of strategy, knowledge, and research makes fantasy sports exciting and rewarding.
• Monetary Incentive: The opportunity to win real money adds a financial thrill to the game.
• Cultural Connection: Cricket, India’s most beloved sport, is central to most fantasy sports apps.

Key Fantasy Sports Platforms in India

Several platforms dominate the fantasy sports scene in India, each with its unique features catering to different user needs and preferences.

Dream11 is the pioneer in the Indian fantasy sports market and arguably the most well-known globally. It gained massive popularity after becoming a sponsor for the Indian Premier League (IPL), and it continues to dominate the fantasy space, especially in cricket. Dream11’s interface is user-friendly, and it focuses heavily on cricket, making it an obvious choice for cricket enthusiasts who want to engage with the sport on a deeper level. The platform also hosts a variety of fantasy games for other sports like football and kabaddi, but cricket remains its flagship offering.

MyTeam11 is another major player that directly competes with Dream11. Known for offering lower competition pools, MyTeam11 is especially appealing to newcomers. These smaller pools often make it easier for casual players to win, which is a major draw for beginners who might be intimidated by Dream11’s more competitive environment. With a focus on cricket, MyTeam11 also provides an intuitive interface, making it a solid choice for both novices and experienced players.

MPL (Mobile Premier League) stands out because it offers a wider variety of games beyond fantasy sports. It combines traditional fantasy sports with arcade games, quizzes, and other casual skill-based games. This hybrid model makes MPL a one-stop-shop for users who enjoy different types of mobile gaming experiences. While it started primarily as a fantasy platform, MPL now offers a more diverse gaming portfolio, attracting users who are looking for more than just sports betting or fantasy gameplay.

Do Indian Betting Apps Offer Fantasy Sports Features

Integration of Fantasy Sports in Betting Apps

In recent years, many Indian betting apps have recognized the growing demand for fantasy sports and are blending these features with traditional betting elements. These hybrid platforms serve as a Swiss Army knife for gamers, combining the excitement of traditional betting with the skill and strategy of fantasy sports. By offering both, these apps cater to a wider audience—those who enjoy the randomness and thrill of betting and those who prefer the challenge and tactical thinking involved in fantasy sports.

Many betting apps now feature dedicated fantasy sports sections. These apps allow users to switch seamlessly between placing traditional bets and creating fantasy teams, all within the same app. This integration makes it easier for users to access multiple gaming experiences without having to download separate apps. The user interface is typically designed to accommodate both types of gaming, with easy navigation between the two sections, making the overall experience more streamlined and engaging.

Examples of Indian Betting Apps with Fantasy Features

MPL is a great example of an Indian betting app that incorporates both fantasy sports and other gaming features. While its core offering was initially focused on fantasy sports, MPL quickly expanded to include other games such as rummy, poker, and casual games. This makes it a versatile platform that appeals to users who may not just be interested in fantasy sports but also enjoy casual gaming and betting. MPL’s seamless integration of various gaming types allows it to stand out in the competitive Indian gaming market.

Another popular platform, WinZO, is primarily known for casual games, but it has recently expanded into the fantasy sports arena. Though WinZO is not a dedicated fantasy sports platform like Dream11, it has carved out a niche by offering smaller, more casual fantasy pools alongside its traditional casual games. This gives users a flexible and less intimidating entry point into fantasy sports, especially for those who might be new to the concept or looking for a more laid-back approach to gaming.