Legal Actions Against Fantasy Sports Platforms in Haryana

Haryana’s new gambling law has resulted in the filing of its first FIR against the fantasy sports platform Sportasy, which is owned by Blossomfield Gamingzone Pvt Ltd. The complaint has been lodged by Hari Nuniya, a Naharpur resident, marking the commencement of Haryana’s regulatory actions against operators in the fantasy gaming sector.

Overview of the New Gambling Law

This initiative comes in the wake of Haryana’s notification regarding the Prevention of Public Gambling Act, 2025, issued in May. The updated legislation encompasses fantasy sports and opinion trading platforms unless they are categorically identified as “games of skill” by the state government, as per Sections 2(g) and 16 of the Act.

Implications for Fantasy Sports Operators

Despite earlier court decisions that deemed fantasy sports as skill-based gaming, Haryana’s regulations necessitate explicit approval at the state level. Failure to obtain this could subject even long-established operators to legal repercussions.

Reactions from Various Platforms

In response to potential legal threats, platforms like MPL have ceased their fantasy and opinion-trading services in Haryana. However, competitors such as Dream11, My11Circle, SportsBaazi, and MyTeam11 continue to function in the state. With the filing of the FIR against Sportasy, the spotlight is firmly on fantasy games, rummy, and opinion trading apps including Dream11, My11Circle, MyTeam11, and SportsBaazi.

Legal Risks Faced by Operators

Experts in the legal field suggest that these platforms may be at risk of facing similar actions, which could involve FIRs, criminal investigations, asset freezes, and interruptions to their operations if they do not secure state acknowledgment. Following the law’s enactment, government authorities have begun enforcing regulations in the opinion trading sector.

Recent Developments in Opinion Trading

In May, the Gurugram Police froze assets exceeding Rs 100 crore related to the Probo app. In response, Probo approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which declined to unfreeze the funds. The company then escalated the matter to the Supreme Court on June 2. However, the Supreme Court directed Probo to return to the High Court for a comprehensive hearing. The High Court reviewed the situation today and requested that the investigating officers provide all pertinent details by the next hearing set for June 12.

First Case Under New Law

This FIR against Sportasy represents the initial known case under the revised law aimed specifically at a fantasy sports platform. A report from Startup Superb highlighted that applications such as Dream11, My11Circle, and others are still operating in Haryana despite the new legislation coming into force. This reflects the law’s extensive categorization of “betting,” which includes fantasy sports, opinion trading, and various other real-money gaming platforms.