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In India’s rapidly evolving digital economy, sports have emerged not just as a form of entertainment but as a cultural and economic force driving user engagement, content innovation, and technology adoption. The Storyboard18 Digital Entertainment Summit 2025 was a clear reflection of this seismic shift, bringing together leaders from media, gaming, technology, and government to map the future of this fast-growing sector.


With nearly 600 million gamers and over half a billion sports fans, India is moving beyond being a content consumption market; it is fast becoming a global creator and innovation hub for digital sports entertainment. From fantasy sports and live streaming to hyper-personalised fan journeys and premium sports travel, the way Indians engage with sports is transforming in profound and permanent ways.


Just a few years ago, sports entertainment in India was largely a lean-back experience. Fans tuned in to watch, maybe discussed matches with friends, or shared reactions online. Today, it’s an entirely different landscape.


Fantasy sports have turned viewers into strategists. Casual sports-based gaming and Esports are drawing new audiences across age groups and geographies. Livestreaming platforms now offer custom-curated feeds, regional commentary, in-play stats, and real-time engagement tools. The fan has moved from the sidelines to the centre of the action.


A key catalyst in this evolution is fantasy sports. This format has gamified real-world sporting events, transforming fans from passive viewers into decision-makers. Fantasy sports reward knowledge, foresight, and strategy, offering fans a chance to engage with the game at a deeper level.


Fantasy sports has now become integral to India’s sports economy, spanning cricket, football, kabaddi, and more. While the format peaks during marquee tournaments, its year-round formats and the addition of new sports are expanding off-season engagement. 


In fact, 70.5 percent of users say their sports knowledge and screen time have actually increased since joining fantasy platforms, according to a recent Google-Deloitte report.


The fantasy sports industry’s impact can also be viewed at scale. According to the FIFS-Deloitte 2025 report, the sector contributed ₹4,290 crore in GST to the Indian economy between FY18 and FY23. Under the new tax regime, it is projected to contribute ₹3,520 crore in FY24 alone. 


In FY24, the fantasy sports industry also generated ₹9,100 crore, having already yielded ₹23,860 crore between FY18 and FY23. It has also emerged as a forerunner in the broader sports tech ecosystem, and pulled in ₹27,500 crore in funding between FY18 and FY23. 


India’s digital sports entertainment space is maturing into a full-fledged ecosystem. The ecosystem has transformed into a billion-dollar industry, with market revenues projected to reach INR 49,500 by 2029, showcasing a CAGR of 13%. The sports fan engagement segment has showcased a rapid rise, estimated to be INR 21,400 crore in FY24 and is expected to grow to INR 38,400 crore by FY29. 


Globally, fan engagement, which comprises Fantasy Sports, sports gaming, ad tech, commerce, ticketing and content, is the largest sector, estimated to be INR 20,14,900 crore in FY24, which is projected to reach INR 31,58,300 crore by FY29. 


The summit highlighted the emergence of companies like Dream Sports, which have built one of India’s largest sports-tech ecosystems and are at the forefront of this transformation. Its diverse portfolio includes Dream11, the world’s largest fantasy sports platform; FanCode, India’s go-to destination for digital sports content and commerce; DreamSetGo, a premium sports travel and experiences platform; Dream Cricket’25, a AAA mobile sports game; and Sixer, a sports-based virtual trading game. This multi-brand approach is empowering sports fans across the country with more ways to engage, play, travel, and be entertained.


At the core of this revolution lies technology. AI, machine learning, AR/VR, and immersive storytelling are no longer futuristic concepts; they’re shaping the present. From personalising fan journeys to optimising live interactions and building predictive analytics into sports commerce, technology is elevating both the fan experience and business viability.


India is fast emerging as a global hub for sports-tech innovation. Homegrown companies are designing high-performance infrastructure, low-latency live streaming, interactive match centres, and immersive match previews that rival the best in the world. India’s shift from consumer to creator is now visible across the entire digital sports value chain.


But with rapid innovation comes the need for equally agile governance. This year marks the first full year under the revised GST regime for online gaming, a year that is seeing financial pressures and strategic recalibrations across companies. The summit spotlighted a growing consensus: India needs a unified and forward-looking regulatory framework, one that balances user protection with innovation and long-term sustainability.


As digital sports entertainment accelerates, the evolution of regulatory and policy environments will be critical in unlocking its full potential.


What echoed throughout the summit was a collective realisation: sport is no longer confined to stadiums or screens. It’s a cultural movement connecting fans, athletes, and communities.


Whether it’s grassroots tournaments or curated sports travel experiences, the shift is now from volume to value. Increasingly, Indian fans are planning domestic and international trips around marquee events, from the Paris Olympics and FIFA World Cup to T20 World Cups and Grand Slams. Sports are becoming central to lifestyle, travel and identity.


India’s digital sports entertainment journey is more than a passing trend; it reflects a steady, meaningful evolution. With a mobile-first population, rising disposable income, strong digital infrastructure, and a generational passion for sport, India is steadily carving its place as a key player on the global stage.


As the lines between watching, playing and experiencing continue to blur, the future of sports in India is inclusive, immersive and undeniably global.


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/gaming-news/where-sports-meets-code-how-dream-cricket-is-redefining-sports-gaming-73637.htm">Where sports meets code: How dream cricket is redefining sports gaming</a>
 

<em><strong>Brand Content Initiative</strong></em>

Sports at the heart of India's digital entertainment revolution

As India’s digital entertainment industry continues to expand rapidly, the online gaming sector remains caught in a legal limbo, navigating a maze of inconsistent state regulations. At the Digital Entertainment Summit 2025 hosted by Storyboard18, leading voices from the industry urged the central government to fast-track a unified legal framework to govern online gaming.

The panel featuring Ananay Jain, Partner, Grant Thornton; Shivani Jha, Founder, EPWA; and Piyush, Founder & CEO, Rooter, highlighted how regulatory uncertainty is slowing down innovation and responsible growth in one of India’s fastest-evolving digital spaces.

"The digital entertainment industry is growing at a massive pace and the regulatory framework is trying to catch up with it. So, at this point, I think self-regulation and co-regulation become some of the important tools that we have and need to abide by. If you look at some of the leading OTT platforms such as Netflix, Hotstar, Amazom Prime, all of them have self-regulated themselves and tried to comply with IAMAI universal code of conduct. Even platforms like Instagram and YouTube are trying to promote more transparency. In egaming, we are pioneering and championing the code of ethics and code of conduct," Ananay Jain, partner, Grant Thornton said.


Jha emphasized the role of Self-Regulatory Bodies (SRBs) under the IT Rules as a potential solution, cautioning that without proper verification mechanisms, every game risks landing in litigation. “User safety is a shared goal,” she said. “It’s time for the government, civil society, and the gaming industry to co-create a trustworthy regulatory ecosystem.”

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/even-for-pros-8-9-hours-of-gaming-isnt-ideal-creators-call-for-need-of-practice-responsible-gaming-72985.htm">"Even for pros, 8–9 hours of gaming isn’t ideal": Creators call for responsible gaming</a>

In early 2025, the Centre signaled intent to develop a centralized regulatory model for online gaming, forming a committee that includes members from the Ministry of Home Affairs, legal experts and gaming executives. The objective is to evaluate how best to balance consumer protection with industry growth.

The conversation also touched on deeper societal concerns such as addiction, online abuse and fraud, frequently associated with gaming platforms. While several firms have adopted voluntary codes of conduct, experts agree that self-regulation alone can’t replace legal clarity.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/online-gaming-industry-needs-for-unified-law-amid-regulatory-patchwork-72223.htm">Online Gaming industry needs for unified law amid regulatory patchwork</a>

DES 2025: Online gaming sector calls for clarity as regulatory gaps persist

Offshore betting platforms have surged to become India’s most violative advertising sector, accounting for 43 percent of cases flagged by the Advertising Standards Council of India in its 2024-2025 annual report, up sharply from 17 percent the previous year.

The figures highlight the regulatory challenges India faces as online gaming and betting operators, often based offshore, continue to find ways around existing frameworks. The issue took center stage at Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit 2025 during a panel discussion on creating an effective regulatory structure for online gaming in India.

Moderating the discussion, independent legal advisor Gowree Gokhale raised concerns about the rapid rise of offshore betting and questioned how a stronger legal framework could “nip offshore betting activity in the bud.”

Gopal Jain, senior counsel, underscored the need for a robust regulatory structure that mandates registration and requires companies to maintain registered offices in India to enable heightened scrutiny and monitoring. Reflecting on previous attempts to address the issue through legal avenues, Jain noted that attempts to file public interest litigations had been met with limited responses. “You make a representation to the government,” he recalled being told.

To tackle the issue effectively, Jain advocated for compulsory registration, regulatory scrutiny, and prompt yet effective enforcement by law enforcement agencies and regulators.

Expanding on the regulatory challenges, Nandan Kamath, principal lawyer at LawNK, argued that from a business standpoint, it is currently easier to operate an offshore betting site than one within India’s jurisdiction.

Kamath also highlighted the pervasive spread of surrogate advertising across buses, auto rickshaws, and billboards. While jurisdictional action is often seen as a last resort, Kamath pointed out that “jurisdiction isn't much of help when it came to online gaming and the harm caused by it.”

“We're in a very peculiar position where the greater harm is being left out,” Kamath added. “If we want to call other harms from the networked gaming ecosystem, it's like them getting stepchild treatment when the other one is getting first child treatment.”

As India’s online gaming and betting markets expand, regulators and legal experts appear aligned on one point: without a stronger enforcement framework, offshore betting will continue to flourish, undermining consumer protection and regulatory efforts in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets.

<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/a-clear-lakshman-rekha-has-to-be-drawn-legal-experts-call-for-centralized-regulation-of-indias-online-gaming-ecosystem-72146.htm">'A clear Lakshman Rekha has to be drawn': Legal experts call for centralized regulation of India's online gaming ecosystem</a> 


Registration, Scrutiny, Enforcement: Playbook to tackle offshore betting surge

As India’s gaming industry powers into the mainstream, creators are raising a red flag, not against growth, but against burnout. Speaking at Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit 2025, top gaming personalities including Mehek Sayed aka Mizo, Tanmay Singh aka Scout and Harnit Khatri joined CNN-News18's Toya Singh to discuss the creator economy and gaming’s transformation from a subculture to a cultural force.

But amid the celebration of India’s rising esports scene and creator-led innovation, Mizo struck a grounded note. She said, “Even for pros, 8–9 hours of gaming isn’t ideal. We need to talk about balance.”

The comment resonates at a time when mobile gaming is not only India’s top digital pastime, often outpacing cricket and cinema in screen time, but also a high-pressure profession. As gaming shifts from a hobby to a career path, creators and regulators alike are urging moderation.

India’s Digital Gaming Management Authority (DGMA) has already introduced screen-time limits for minors and creators now advocate for healthier gaming habits even among professionals. With Tier-3 talent entering the spotlight, homegrown orgs thriving and institutional backing increasing, the future of Indian gaming looks bright, but it must also be sustainable.

Mehek Sayed also addressed the persistent gender gap in the industry, pointing out that women make up just 20% of India’s gaming community. “We still hear lines like ‘you play well for a girl’, and it’s exhausting,” she said.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/game-on-gaming-creators-bets-gaming-being-indias-next-creative-economy-72215.htm">Game on! Gaming creators bets gaming being India’s next creative economy</a>

"Even for pros, 8–9 hours of gaming isn’t ideal": Creators call for responsible gaming

At Storyboard18's Digital Entertainment Summit 2025, Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary, Directorate General of Information & PR, Maharashtra, made a strong case for harmonizing India’s fragmented legal framework around cybercrime, gambling, and online gaming.

“There needs to be one uniform policy across all states,” Singh said, highlighting how the Indian Gambling Act of the 1850s has created a patchwork of state-level regulations. “Nagaland may come up with something, Haryana may come up with something, Maharashtra may come up with something,” he added. “There has to be a harmonization.”

Singh emphasized the need for a national framework, particularly for online gaming, which he described as fundamentally different from traditional gambling. “To put sanity around all this, you need a national framework. It would be very worthwhile that some kind of a model framework is created which then all states follow,” he said. “Rather than having this patchwork of governance, it should have one at least unified law across all country.”

This demand for uniformity was also tied to investigative challenges. “Policing is a state subject,” Singh noted. “Investigation, collection of evidence, arrests—all of that falls under state jurisdiction.” But capability varies widely across states like Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, making enforcement uneven and inefficient.

He further argued that the internet erases jurisdictional boundaries, unlike traditional land-based industries. “It’s illogical to apply a land-based legal model to the internet. There are no borders on the internet.” Singh called for immediate action: “We need harmonization and we need it now.”

Singh shared how Maharashtra became an early mover in cyber policing. “Maharashtra was one of the first states to establish 47 cyber labs in one go. In fact, I was very lucky to be the first cyber chief in 2015.”

With an allocation of ₹1,000 crore from the then Chief Minister, “we could go around the world, see what is the state of the art and create best labs in Maharashtra.” He added that this helped train lakhs of personnel and build public awareness.

Feedback loops were also created with banks and regulators: “If we saw that there was a feedback that KYC is a weakness which is leading to crimes, then we could give feedback to the regulators... and come up with right policies and right frameworks.”

The official praised central coordination tools like I4C and 1930. “There is a number called 1930. Everybody should remember this number because as soon as somebody is subjected to crime, they should call up this number because it stops the flight of money.”

<strong>Read More:</strong><a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/interviews/retrospective-gst-and-offshore-gambling-are-twin-threats-for-gaming-eys-ashish-pherwani-72262.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Retrospective GST and offshore gambling are twin threats for gaming: EY’s Ashish Pherwani</a>

In most cybercrime cases, money gets distributed across accounts in real time. “1930 has the authority to stop this flight of money. Because generally in crime we say: follow the money.”

He also highlighted cybercrime.gov.in, where victims can lodge anonymous complaints. “A lot has been done... in raising the capabilities and the capacity and the skills of police forces to investigate cybercrimes.”

On partnerships, the official cited the Maharashtra Cyber Digital Crime Unit, later rebranded as the Intellectual Property Crime Unit. “It was a unique partnership in which we told the industry: you give us the infrastructure, manpower, expertise—we’ll give you the law enforcement teeth.”

This collaboration led to blocking millions of piracy hits per month. “Only 14% of piracy traffic was happening in India and 16% overseas,” he said, rebutting long-standing criticism of India’s IP enforcement.

He called for similar public-private models for threat intelligence sharing: “It can be about anything—crypto flows, malware, IPs, illegal transactions.”

<strong>Read More:</strong><a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/banning-games-is-not-the-solution-jayesh-ranjan-govt-of-telangana-at-storyboard18-des-2025-72661.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Banning games is not the solution: Jayesh Ranjan, Govt of Telangana at Storyboard18 DES 2025</a>

Need a unified national policy for online gaming: Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary, Maharashtra Govt at Storyboard18 DES 2025

Speaking at Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit 2025, Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary, Directorate General of Information & PR, Maharashtra, spotlighted the state’s leading role in tackling cybercrime and illegal online betting. As digital threats grow more complex and borderless, Singh underscored the urgent need for harmonized regulation, stronger infrastructure, and public-private collaboration to stay ahead in the fight against digital crime.

“First of all, I think as it has been discussed in the earlier sessions also, there needs to be one uniform policy across all states. Nagaland may come up with something, Haryana may come up with something, Maharashtra may come up with something. There has to be a harmonization,” he said.

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WATCH: Maharashtra's DGIPR Brijesh Singh on need of uniform policy across states

At the Digital Entertainment Summit 2025 hosted by Storyboard18, Dr. M.C. Sarangan, Member of the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA), emphasized the need to shift India’s online gaming narrative from regulation to responsibility. Stressing that the core issue lies not in gaming itself but in compulsive overuse, Sarangan called for a nationwide push toward public awareness, early intervention, and collaborative governance to foster a safer digital gaming ecosystem.

“The problem isn’t gaming. It’s excessive and compulsive gaming. We promote responsible gaming, and every action we take is based on research,” Sarangan said, outlining TNOGA’s core philosophy.

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WATCH: TNOGA's Dr. M.C. Sarangan on gaming addiction as a collective fight

At Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit (DES) 2025, Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana, made a strong case against blanket bans on online gaming and instead called for a more nuanced, long-term regulatory approach.

“The gaming sector offers economic potential, but also raises concerns like addiction, underage participation, and fraud. Blanket bans don’t work. While Telangana has had its own bans, I don’t believe that’s the long-term solution,” said Ranjan.

He also highlighted the limitations of the current national regulatory structure and emphasized the need for a more effective model:

“The current national approach of self-regulatory bodies (SRBs) hasn’t worked well either due to elite capture and fragmentation. We are now exploring a third model that balances innovation and consumer protection. It’s not an easy solution, but necessary.”

<strong>Telangana’s AVGC Push</strong>

In the broader context of India’s growing AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) sector, Ranjan outlined how Telangana has emerged as a national frontrunner by combining early policy innovation, large-scale infrastructure, and industry-integrated skilling.

“Telangana recognized the potential of this sector much earlier than others. After becoming a separate state in 2014, we identified the AVGC sector as a flagship component of our digital economy. We were possibly the first state to come out with a progressive AVGC policy, and we’re now working on version 2.0. This policy was built bottom-up, addressing real challenges faced by the industry,” said Ranjan.

He added that Telangana’s approach has gone beyond policy announcements.

“Beyond policy, we’ve taken five concrete steps—most notably, the construction of the IMAGE Tower in Hyderabad. This is a 1.6 million sq. ft. Grade A facility with ₹1,200 crore of state investment. It’s expected to generate 30,000 jobs and attract over 150 VFX companies.”

Ranjan also highlighted the city’s growing cinematic dominance and its strong pipeline of industry leaders.

“In the last 15 years, 12 of the highest-grossing Indian films came from the South—9 of them from the Telugu industry. Even films from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka often have their post-production and VFX work done in Hyderabad.”

“We also have a significant leadership presence in this sector—about 15–16% of India’s top AVGC company CEOs are from Telangana.”

Telangana, unlike many other states, didn’t wait for AVGC momentum to build organically. It built a cohesive foundation proactively.

“Unlike many states, we didn’t wait for an organic ecosystem to emerge and then react. We preemptively built a cohesive one—combining policy, infrastructure, talent development, and incentives,” said Ranjan.

<strong>Read More:</strong><a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/india-can-lead-in-avgc-but-industry-must-focus-on-finishing-skills-jayesh-ranjan-govt-of-telangana-at-storyboard18-des-2025-72123.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">India can lead in AVGC, but industry must focus on 'finishing skills': Jayesh Ranjan, Govt of Telangana at Storyboard18 DES 2025</a>

<strong>Read More:</strong><a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/dr-mc-sarangan-of-tnoga-pushes-for-safe-gaming-ecosystem-at-storyboard18-des-2025-72197.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Dr. MC Sarangan of TNOGA pushes for safe gaming ecosystem at Storyboard18 DES 2025</a>



Banning games is not the solution: Jayesh Ranjan, Govt of Telangana at Storyboard18 DES 2025

India is fast emerging as a global creative force, no longer just a consumer of international content, said Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting; and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L Murugan at Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit 2025. 

Highlighting the scale of the digital economy—powered by 971 million internet users and 562 million smartphones—Murugan identified streaming, gaming, AVGC-XR, and live events as key drivers of the ₹2.5 trillion media and entertainment industry. He also underscored the role of government-led initiatives like WAVES 2025 and the Indian Institute of Creative Technology in building talent and cultural influence worldwide.

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WATCH: MoS I&B Dr. L Murugan on India emerging as a global creative powerhouse

India’s media and entertainment industry is undergoing a digital revolution, driven by the country’s mobile-first youth, widespread smartphone usage, and affordable internet access. 

Speaking at Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit 2025, Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, revealed that over 55% of all advertising spends are now directed towards digital platforms. With emerging technologies like AI, XR, and VR entering the mainstream, the future of storytelling, production, and content consumption in India is being fundamentally reshaped.

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