“Fantasy games are nothing but means to lure people to spend their money for quick earning by taking a chance, whereby most end up losing their money in the process, which is gambling/betting/wagering? The main issue raised is substantially decided by Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court [18.04.2017]. After detailed consideration of the facts as well as law, Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court categorically held that success in Dream 11 basically arises out of exercise of superior knowledge, judgment and attention; thus, as per skill. Gurdeep Singh Sachar has lost sight of the fact that the result of the fantasy game contest is not at all dependent on winning or losing of any particular team in the real-world game. No betting or gambling is involved. There is no plausible reason to take a contrary view than that taken by Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court and upheld by Hon’ble Supreme Court. Dream 11 is predominantly a game of skill, where users/participants create virtual teams comprising as many players as in real-life teams, for upcoming matches. There has to be a mix of players from both the competing teams between whom the real-life matches are being played. The users/participants compete against such virtual teams created by other users/participants. The winners are decided based on points scored, using statistical data generated by the real-life performance of the players on the ground. Further, the deadline to create a team is latest by the official match start time. No changes can be made after the deadline. The participants do not bet on the outcome of the match and merely play a role akin to that of selectors in selecting the team. The points are scored by the participants for the entire duration of the whole match and not any part of the match. Their fantasy games are ‘games of skill’ and not any ‘games of chance’.”

– Hon’ble Justice Ranjit More of High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Gurdeep Singh Sachar v. Dream 11 Fantasy Pvt. Ltd., [Criminal Public Interest Litigation Stamp No. 22 of 2019].