IPL valuation dips to ₹76,100 crore, hit by gaming ad ban for second year running

The Indian Premier League’s valuation has declined for the second consecutive year, slipping to ₹76,100 crore in 2025 from ₹82,700 crore in 2024 and ₹92,500 crore in 2023, according to a report by D&P Advisory.

This marks the first time in the league’s history that its value has fallen two years in a row. The primary reason behind the drop is the government’s ban on real-money gaming advertisements, which has wiped out an estimated ₹1,500–2,000 crore annually from the IPL’s revenue ecosystem.

Fantasy sports and gaming platforms were among the league’s biggest advertisers and sponsors, contributing close to ₹2,000 crore each year across team, broadcaster, and league-level deals.

The sudden regulatory clampdown has forced many of these companies to pull back entirely, leaving a large vacuum in the sponsorship landscape. One of the biggest setbacks came when Dream11, one of the IPL’s most prominent partners, withdrew its ₹358 crore national jersey sponsorship after the ad restrictions came into effect.

The consolidation of media rights in 2024 has further dampened competitive bidding, ending the upward trajectory that previously pushed broadcasting valuations to record highs. Industry experts say the decline reflects a structural correction rather than a temporary dip.

With gaming firms out of the picture, franchises and the league are now looking to sectors such as FMCG, BFSI, and automotive to fill the gap, though these categories are unlikely to match the spending levels of fantasy gaming brands.

The impact has also reached the Women’s Premier League, whose valuation fell from ₹1,350 crore to ₹1,275 crore this year. As the IPL enters its next phase, stakeholders believe the focus will need to shift towards building diversified and sustainable revenue streams beyond the high-spending but volatile gaming ecosystem.