IPL Finals Fever: Betting, Fantasy Leagues, and the Legal Boundaries Behind India’s Cricket Craze

BY- Sangna Kansagra & Leya Susan Binu


In the red and gold corner: Royal Challengers Bangalore, playing their first-ever IPL final on June 3! Across from them: Punjab Kings, also seeking their maiden crown. It’s an all-out sprint to the summit, and fans can barely contain their excitement (or their betting slips). In living rooms, chai tapris, and endless group chats across India, everyone’s a selector, a statistician—and, increasingly, a stakeholder in the massive industries that shadow the sport: fantasy cricket and online betting. 

This cricket carnival isn’t just about sixes, wickets, and powerplays—it’s also about crores being wagered, fantasy points being tracked in real time, and a legal playbook that’s more complex than a DLS calculation. As fans build their fantasy dream teams, and some take bolder financial punts, we break down the whirlwind of legalities, risks, and trends that drive this high-stakes ecosystem. 

 

Fantasy Leagues & Betting: Where Fans Become Managers, and Sometimes, Gamblers 

With RCB finally breaking their jinx and Punjab chasing redemption, this year’s IPL final is more than just a cricket match—it’s a national moment. Fantasy league platforms are reporting record-breaking activity. Millions of users have already selected their fantasy squads for the finale, and winning pots are swelling Meanwhile, online betting rings, both legal and illegal, are buzzing with activity. From informal WhatsApp bookies to slick foreign-run betting apps, betting volumes during IPL finals skyrocket and where there’s money, there’s regulation—or at least, attempts at it. 

 

Is This Even Legal? India’s Betting & Fantasy Law Is… Complicated 

At the heart of India’s legal take on gambling is the ancient Public Gambling Act of 1867, a colonial relic that bans most forms of gambling—but only in the physical world. Online betting? That’s a murkier pitch. 

Here’s the spin: 

  • Fantasy sports are considered games of skill, not chance, according to several High Courts. This makes them legally permissible in most Indian states. 

  • Betting on match outcomes, however, falls into the “game of chance” bucket and remains largely illegal, unless a state like Sikkim or Nagaland has created a specific licensing framework. 

  • Confused? You’re not alone. This state-by-state chaos creates legal grey zones, exploited by offshore betting platforms that operate beyond Indian jurisdiction. 

 
The Clean-Up Crew: Regulators, Raids & Red Flags 

Every IPL season, India’s enforcement agencies spring into action. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and local police crackdown on illegal betting syndicates, many of which have international links and money laundering angles. 

This year, already, multiple betting networks have been busted across Maharashtra, Delhi, and Gujarat—some using cryptocurrency, Telegram groups, and VPNs to mask their trail. Match-fixing concerns, while not proven in recent seasons, always loom large when betting volumes explode. 

Some Fantasy league platforms  maintain robust anti-fraud systems, and the IPL’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has intensified vigilance around suspicious activity. Players, coaches, and even support staff receive briefings on spotting and reporting dodgy approaches. 

  

What Could Go Wrong? Risks for Fans, Addicts, and the Game Itself 

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, especially when you’re “just playing fantasy.” But risks abound: 

  • Addiction: Fantasy apps and betting sites use dopamine-driven design—leaderboards, points, daily rewards—that can become compulsive. 

  • Financial loss: A few thousand here and there might not hurt, but many fans have gone into debt chasing fantasy wins or betting profits. 

  • Scams: Fake betting sites, clone fantasy apps, and phishing links thrive during the IPL. Losing money to cyberfraud is easier than you think. 

  • Integrity of the sport: Illegal betting creates a backdoor into match-fixing, spot-fixing, or insider leaks, jeopardising the game's authenticity. 

 

Supreme Court Sounds Alarm on Betting and Gambling During IPL 

In a parallel legal development, the Supreme Court of India on May 23, 2025, expressed deep concern over the surge in online betting and gambling, particularly during the IPL season. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by evangelist alleged that influencers, actors, and even former cricketers were promoting betting apps that had led to a tragic rise in suicides among children and youth. 

The PIL claimed that more than 1,023 suicides were reported in Telangana alone, allegedly linked to addiction to online betting applications. The petitioner urged the Court to impose mandatory warnings and regulatory restrictions, akin to cigarette packaging, which display the ill-effects of their use. 

The bench led by Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh remarked, “In the name of IPL, a lot of people are betting and indulging in gambling. This is a serious issue.” However, the Court also noted the limitations of legal enforcement, pointing out that social and technological dynamics often undermine the efficacy of legislative bans. 

Despite its acknowledgment of the limitations of law in curbing voluntary betting behavior, the Court issued a notice to the Centre, seeking its formal response on the regulation of such apps. It also hinted at the possibility of involving all states and law enforcement authorities if necessary. 

 

The Road Ahead: Balancing Thrill with Responsibility 

The Indian government is slowly moving toward more nuanced regulation: 

  • Several states are exploring regulatory sandboxes or licensing regimes for online gaming. 

  • The Ministry of Electronics and IT recently introduced intermediary guidelines for online gaming platforms, requiring self-regulation and user grievance mechanisms. 

  • Fantasy companies are lobbying for a central regulatory framework, which would provide clarity and reduce state-wise fragmentation. 

Platforms like Dream11 and My11Circle are also updating their Terms of Service, pushing self-exclusion options, and partnering with psychologists to manage gaming addiction. But the question remains: how do we celebrate the game without letting it be gamed? 

 

Final Over: Play Smart, Stay Safe 

As RCB dreams of lifting their first-ever IPL trophy and Punjab dares to script their own underdog fairytale, fans across India are all in—on cricket, on fantasy picks, and sometimes, on bets. The IPL has become a mirror of India’s modern sports economy: thrilling, tech-enabled, but walking a legal tightrope. 

Understanding the fine line between skill and chance, legal play and illegal risk, can help fans enjoy the finals responsibly. Because whether you’re cheering for Kohli or backing Livingstone, cricket is best enjoyed without the burden of a bad wager—or a call from your bank’s fraud department. 


Cheer till your throat goes hoarse. But know the rules of the game—not just the ones on the pitch. 

RCB or Punjab may take the trophy on June 3—but for the rest of us, staying informed might just be the real win.