Online Gaming Bill 2025: BCCI secy Saikia weighs in on new bill - 'We will only do what's allowed under Indian law'

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia

Kharge Face Off With Rijiju In Rajya Sabha As Online Gaming Bill Passed Amid Opposition Uproar

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'Govt policy will put to rest all campaigns against India's participation in Asia Cup'

MUMBAI: Ever since the government has introduced its new online gaming bill, specifically the 'Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025', there are fears that India's cricket industry's revenue could be badly hit. The Board of Control for Cricket in India , especially, has reason to be worried as two prominent gaming companies - Dream11 and My11Circle are its key sponsors. While Dream11 is the title sponsor of Team India, My11Circle holds the fantasy gaming rights for the IPL for the next three years.The BCCI , however, has made it abundantly clear that it will abide by the law of the land."The act has just been discussed in the Lok Sabha today and the Rajya Sabha yesterday. It would then take a final shape, go through Presidential assent, and then there will be a 'date of appointment.' We will then read it, and then only we will take a call on whatever is there. The BCCI will not do anything which is not permitted by the government or by any law of the country. The BCCI will not violate any of the laws enforced in the country. That's very clear," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told TOI on Thursday.Explaining the BCCI's future course of action, Saikia said, "Once the act comes into force, we will look into it, examine it and if it's permissible, then we will take sponsorship (from online betting and gaming companies), if it's not permissible, we'll not do anything. Take the example of cigarettes and liquor. Has the BCCI taken any sponsorship from the cigarettes and liquor companies once taking sponsorship from these kinds of companies was banned? So, whatever is permissible in the laws in force in our country, we will do that only. ""The BCCI will follow every policy of the country which is framed by the central government," asserted the BCCI secretary.The BCCI has "welcomed" the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports coming out with a policy (guidelines) on Thursday which declared that India and Pakistan will not have any bilateral sporting ties even on neutral venues as per an unprecedented new policy but the cricket team won't be stopped from playing the Asia Cup next month as it is a multilateral engagement.The policy will enable Team India to compete in the T20 Asia Cup in UAE next month, despite the growing clamour for boycott and withdrawal from the tournament. India are supposed to play Pakistan at least twice in the tournament - on Sept 14 in the league stage and on Sept 21, in the Super Four stage. India will not host or visit pakistan for bilateral contests, but their athletes and teams can take part in multi-nation events that also involve Pakistan, clearing the path for their upcoming fixtures in the men's Asia Cup in September and the women's ODI World Cup in October (India will play Pakistan in Colombo on Oct 5).Pakistan's sportspersons can also participate in multilateral events hosted by India, but it's not clear if India's athletes can go to Pakistan for similar sporting events."Today, the central government has come out with a policy on international sporting events. We welcome this. This will put to rest all the campaigns against India participating in the Asia Cup. The BCCI is doing this (participating in the Asia Cup) as per the central government's policy. The central government has taken the interest of the players, the teams and also, the events that are going to be hosted by our country in the future. So, all these things are very nicely taken by the government of India and we fully endorse the view expressed by the central government and we will 100% abide by the policy framed by the central government," Saikia told this paper."The BCCI will not go a single inch against the government's policy. We will fully abide by all policies of the central government, whether it is participating in an international sporting event or regarding sponsorship. We will follow everything in true letter and spirit," the Indian Board secretary asserted before signing off.

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