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Dream11 has begun a major shift from real-money fantasy gaming to a second-screen sports entertainment platform. Co-founder and CEO Harsh Jain announced the new product in Mumbai, describing it as a way to fix lonely match viewing and deepen live sports engagement. The revamped app, which will go live within 24 hours, now targets a global audience and a projected second-screen sports market of around $10 billion.
The move comes over three months after Dream11 halted all paid contests following India’s new online gaming law, which bans real-money games. The company now plans to exit online gaming completely and focus on live sports engagement. Dream11, which already serves more than 250 million users, will position the app as a companion to existing broadcasters rather than a replacement.
The new Dream11 platform centres on creator-led watch-alongs for live matches. Sports creators will stream themselves watching games while the app overlays match scorecards, live statistics and breakdowns directly in the interface. Fans can follow their favourite creators, react in chat, join polls and quizzes, and participate in free-to-play fantasy formats during the game.
Dream11 wants to give fans a shared viewing space at scale. Internal data cited by Jain shows that 80% of sports viewers already use a second screen during live events. India counts about 129 million connected-TV users and 600 million OTT viewers, and this multi-screen behaviour has lifted sports consumption by about 70%. The company believes structured watch-alongs can turn isolated viewing into a group experience without changing how fans watch the main broadcast.
At launch, Dream11 will work with 25 curated creators and then open the platform to more voices over time. Existing independent watch-along streamers gain a centralised stage, while fans see a consistent format. A “Moments” tab will showcase short clips of key reactions and creator highlights, offering a reel-style feed for quick catch-ups.
Dream11’s second-screen platform adopts a creator economy model. Users will buy virtual currency to pay for shout-outs, ask questions or join creators on video calls. Creators will retain the majority of this revenue, while Dream11 earns a commission as platform provider. The app will run an ad-supported model at launch and later introduce paid upgrades, including an ad-free tier.
The company has also refreshed its engagement tools. A rebranded loyalty programme, DreamBucks, lets users reward creators and pin comments during streams. A free-to-play fantasy feature, Flex, enables customised leagues without real-money entry fees. Dream11 has already expanded the new experience to 11 international markets, including the US, UK, Australia and the UAE, with advertising and sponsorships supporting the model.
Internally, Dream11 now operates more like a startup. The original business employed around 1,000 people; the new product arm runs with under 200 staff across eight independent ventures, each with its own targets and funding. Jain frames the pivot as an effort to make every match more engaging by turning Dream11 into a digital hangout for sports fans around the world.
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