Dream Sports Reorganises Operations in Response to RMG Challenges
Dream Sports, which oversees Dream11, has undergone a significant restructuring of its operations following various regulatory challenges within the real-money gaming (RMG) landscape. This change has resulted in over 100 executives departing from the company. After the online gaming prohibition in August of the previous year, Dream Sports segmented into several startups, including Dream11 (pivoted), FanCode, DreamSetGo, DreamCricket, Dream Play, Dream Money, and Dream Horizon.
A spokesperson for Dream Sports confirmed this development to Startup Superb, explaining that the company’s 700 employees were redistributed among these new startups according to their experience. Approximately 15% of the workforce opted to leave for opportunities with larger firms or to pursue their own entrepreneurial paths, while the overall attrition rate has increased slightly, now standing just above the previous figure of 10%. This information was initially reported by ET.
The company currently employs around 950 individuals. Following the prohibition on real-money gaming, Dream Sports has transitioned from its original fantasy gaming model to become a global sports entertainment platform, incorporating creator-led viewing experiences, fan engagement, banter streams, and free-to-play fantasy formats.
Revenue generated from operations at Dream11 fell by 15% year-on-year to Rs 6,759 crore in FY25, down from Rs 7,934 crore in FY24. The firm recorded a loss of Rs 479 crore in FY25, contrasting with a profit of Rs 1,295 crore in FY24. The company’s filings indicated that the reported losses stemmed from expenses associated with the domicile shift and benefits to directors.
The RMG prohibition has triggered widespread layoffs across the gaming sector, prompting companies to consider monetisation models driven by advertisements and subscriptions. This situation has resulted in significant job losses, with Gameskraft reducing its workforce by 400, A23 Rummy (Head Digital Works) laying off 500 staff, Zupee cutting 170 jobs, MPL downsizing its workforce by up to 60%, and Baazi Games shrinking by 200 employees. Reports indicate that Games24x7 has eliminated 70% of its staff. Several of these companies are currently under scrutiny from the government’s financial investigative agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED).