Dream 11 app hit by FIR in Karnataka, big setback for fantasy cricket

Online gaming ban: In a big setback, an FIR has been lodged against Dream 11 app founders in Karnataka, which had recently banned all forms of online gambling, including fantasy cricket.

Online gaming ban: Dream 11 is a popular fantasy cricket app but has faced criticism in some states since its apps involve the public in activities like risking money on fantasy cricket and other sports. (Image: Dream 11)

Online gaming ban: Dream 11 online game application is facing a huge storm over its presence in Karnataka. An FIR has been slapped on Dream 11 app founders at the Annapoorneshwarinagar police station in Bengaluru. The FIR is against the Dream 11 app founders Bhavit Sheth and Harsh Jain, revealed IANS. The complaint has been registered by a resident of Nagarbhavi in Bengaluru named Manjunath and it was was filed on Thursday. Notably, this comes soon on the heels of Karnataka imposing a ban on any form of online gambling just weeks ago, which includes online games that consist of activities like wagering, betting and gambling. The ban spans online games of skills that use electronic means and virtual currency and electronic transfer of funds.

The state government had recently amended the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, which now prohibits the online games of chance and skill where money is involved in any form.

Also, the complaint averred, since it is still online, people can go to it and bet on fantasy cricket where, chances are, they may lose big amounts of money and this will allow the Dream 11 owners to illegally accumulate wealth from a banned source.

The penalties are quite stiff under the new rules. To start with, online gaming is a non-bailable offence and carries an imprisonment period of up to three years. On top of that there is a fine of ₹1 lakh that can be imposed on the guilty persons.

Notably, after the application of the ban in Karnataka, many companies blocked their products. Mobile Premier League (MPL) was among the first few services that began blocking access to users in Karnataka. MPL's gaming app showed messages to users in Karnataka that said, "Sorry! The law in your state does not permit you to play Fantasy sports," "Fantasy games are locked," and "cash games are locked." Paytm First Games too has restricted access to its game in Karnataka.