From Fantasy App to Fan HQ”: Dream11 Reinvents Itself as a Global Sports Entertainment Platform

New Sports Entertainment Play

Dream11, part of Dream Sports, is repositioning itself as a social, interactive destination that complements live sports broadcasts rather than a pure fantasy gaming app. The platform will host creator-led watch-alongs where fans can react, banter and engage through polls, quizzes and free-to-play fantasy contests while following integrated scorecards and real-time stats.​

The shift follows India’s clampdown on real-money online gaming, which forced Dream11 to shut paid contests and explore ad, sponsorship and micro-payment models. Co-founder and CEO Harsh Jain says the goal is to ensure “no sports fan watches a match alone” by turning Dream11 into a global hub for community-led sports experiences across its 250 million-strong user base.​

Key Highlights

Strategic pivot: Exit from real-money fantasy gaming to a free-to-play, creator-driven sports entertainment platform.​

Product features: Live watch-alongs, interactive chats, quizzes, polls, integrated match stats and free-to-play fantasy sports.​

Monetisation: Virtual currency and micro-payments where fans pay for shout-outs, Q&As and creator collaborations; creators retain majority of revenues.​

Regulatory backdrop: Move triggered by India’s 2025 online gaming law that effectively bans real-money games for stakes.​

Global ambition: App now positioned as a worldwide “second screen” for sports fans, building on Dream11’s 250 million registered users.​

Sources: Storyboard18, Entrackr, Financial Express, Moneycontrol, Campaign India, NDTV Profit