Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports
 | |
| Abbreviation | FIFS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2017 |
| Headquarters | New Delhi, Delhi, India |
| Location | |
| Services | Fantasy sports industry regulation |
| Fields | Fantasy sports |
| Membership | As of January 2024[update], 21 members |
Official language | English |
President | Harsh Jain |
| Website | www |
Formerly called | Indian Federation of Sports Gaming |
The Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) is a self-regulatory industry body for fantasy sports in India, headquartered in New Delhi. Established in 2017 as the Indian Federation of Sports Gaming (IFSG), it serves as the primary organization for fantasy sports operators in India.[1]
History
[edit]The organization was founded in 2017 as the Indian Federation of Sports Gaming and is registered under Section 8 of the Indian Companies Act, 2013.[2] Former Supreme Court Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri serves as the organization's ombudsman and ethics officer.[3]
Legal Framework
[edit]Regulatory Status
[edit]The legal status of fantasy sports in India has evolved through several court decisions:
- The Bombay High Court declared fantasy sports legal on 13 April 2019.[4]
- The Supreme Court of India officially recognized fantasy sports as legal on 8 August 2021, classifying them as games of skill rather than gambling.[5]
However, fantasy sports remain prohibited in Sikkim, Nagaland, Odisha, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.[6]
Charter and Governance
[edit]The FIFS Charter establishes operational standards for member organizations, including:[7]
- Legal incorporation requirements in India
- Age restrictions (18+) for paid contests
- Separation of operational and prize pool funds
- Responsible gaming policies
- Prohibition of platform employee participation
Leadership
[edit]As of December 2023[update], key positions include:[8]
- President: Harsh Jain
- Chairman: Bimal Julka
- Director General: Joy Bhattacharjya
- Ombudsman and Ethics Officer: Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri
Member Organizations
[edit]As of January 2024[update], FIFS has 21 member organizations. Notable members include:
| Platform | Organization |
|---|---|
| Dream11 | Sporta Technologies Pvt Ltd |
| Fantasy Akhada | Super Six Sports Gaming Pvt Ltd |
| A23 | Head Digital Works Pvt Ltd |
| Sportasy | Blossomfield Gamingzone Pvt Ltd |
See also
[edit]- Fantasy cricket
- Daily fantasy sports
- Fantasy sport in India
- Video gaming in India
- Online gaming in India
- Gaming laws in India
- Sports betting
- Indian gaming industry
- E-Sports in India
References
[edit]- ^ "Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports welcomes I&B Ministry's advisory". The Hindu. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "Bimal Julka Appointed As Chairman Of FIFS". News18. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ Hariharan, Sindhu (29 July 2019). "Justice A K Sikri appointed ombudsman of Indian Federation of Sports Gaming". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "Is it legal to play fantasy sports like Dream11 for real money in India?". G2G News. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ "Supreme Court upholds Dream11 fantasy sports format as game of skill". The Economic Times. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ Suri, Rajiv (19 January 2022). "Fantasy or Reality- Leveraging Technology for money Games". Lexology. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ "Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports Onboards Spice Fantasy as a Start-up Member". News18. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ Khosla, Varuni (15 July 2022). "Joy Bhattacharjya appointed director general Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports". mint. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
