This WC season cricket fans turn to virtual fields to earn fast bucks
E-sport, which has been a part of American culture, is growing roots in India, thanks to the immense popularity it has gained among sports fanatics. With the introduction of Dream11, as an official fantasy gaming partner for ICC World Cup 2019 and VIVO Indian Premier League, the idea of earning quick money through e-sports is spreading like wildfire across the country.
Modus operandi
Although many liken fantasy sports to betting, these platforms have conquered 90 per cent of the fantasy market, especially during big tournaments like the cricket World Cup as well as IPL and football matches.
On the day of a live match, users logged on to fantasy sports platforms can create their own imaginary teams, choosing players from both the teams that will be playing for the day in real time, and earn cash based on the performance of their chosen player. The two teams compete based on the performance and statistics of the players in the actual game. This performance is converted into points that are calculated according to a roster selected by each fantasy teams’ selector. A ‘league commissioner’ at this point coordinates and manages the overall league and calculate the points manually by tracking actual results of the professional sport. Unlike real sports, in fantasy sports, team owners can select, trade and drop the players as per their wish.
This cricket season, people are playing fantasy cricket to stay involved in the game and simultaneously earn fast bucks. Even Yuvraj Singh, fondly called the Prince of Cricket, who recently announced his retirement from all formats of the sport is joining fantasy cricket and would be competing against his fans.
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Start-ups take it a notch above
Dream11
Many fantasy sports platforms have emerged over the years. Dream11 was the first one launched in 2008. It, however, came to the limelight only in 2012 when they introduced freemium sports in India for cricket fans. In 2014, the company announced its 1 million registered users and double the number by 2016. The last recorded user count for the app went up to 4 million users. The company was ranked 9 among India’s Great Mid-Size Workplaces in 2018 and was also recognised as one of the top 10 innovative companies in India by Fast Company in 2019.
However, its legality was always a question. The law, however, doesn’t allow fantasy sports in Assam, Odisha and Telangana.
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Dream11’s official partnerships with the Board of Cricket Council of India (BCCI) for IPL, International Cricket Council for World Cup, Hero Indian Super League, Pro Kabbadi League and National Basketball Association has got the application a mass user-base that enjoys its $1.1 billion turnover.
The MS Dhoni endorsed app asks the user to pay certain fee to join the contest and can win real cash provided he/she is above 18 years.
Mobile Premier League
The start-up that is growing fast already has 10 million users within seven to eight months of its launch this year. The platform has found a celebrity endorser in Indian captain Virat Kohli. At the time of the launch, it was said that the start-up was valued at ₹12 crore, but it is rumoured that Indonesia’s Go-Jek is planning to invest $ 30 million in the app.
Also watch: Fantasy Cricket: The future of sports
HalaPlay and BalleBaazi
The two most recently launched fantasy cricket platforms have been developed by the alumnus of BITS Pilani and Amity University respectively. The two apps specialise in increasing their market in the mobile gaming industry and are making it bigger with each passing day.
My11Circle
The youngest one to join the league, My11Circle aims purely at domestic and international cricket matches and plans to add more sports as years pass by. Given that the platform is new, several fantasy gamers are said to be flocking it as less competition means better chances of earning rewards.
What happens if the real match gets cancelled?
A question that arose in the minds of every person this cricket season due to the wrath of rain gods on the World Cup needs an answer. If the real match is washed out without a single ball being bowled, the fantasy match too will be cancelled and the entry fees refunded. This includes scenarios where the match is abandoned even after the match has started. hich has been a part of American culture, is growing roots in India, thanks to the immense popularity it has gained among sports fanatics. With the introduction of Dream11, as an official fantasy gaming partner for ICC World Cup 2019 and VIVO Indian Premier League, the idea of earning quick money through e-sports is spreading like wildfire across the country.
