Fantasy Cricket in the USA
Fantasy cricket can be played for real money in 21 US states and Washington, DC because it's a skill-based, peer-to-peer contest — but the big Indian apps no longer offer cash play in America. This guide covers how US fantasy cricket works, where it's legal, what changed for Dream11 players, and how to get started.
Playing with a group? Runtiva groups run private contests with their own chat, so a whole club can play the same match. Running a local league or club? See fantasy cricket for your league.
What is fantasy cricket?
You pick a squad of real cricketers under a fixed credit budget before a match locks. Your players earn fantasy points for everything they do on the field — runs, wickets, catches, economy — and your total competes against other fans' teams for the prize pool. Played daily for money on a US platform, it's called cricket DFS — and the format most players know from Dream11 works the same way here:
- Credit budget — every player has a price; stars cost more, so you can't pick everyone.
- Captain & vice-captain — your captain scores 2× points and your vice-captain 1.5×. Most contests are won and lost here.
- Live scoring — points update in near real time as the match unfolds, ball by ball.
New to the sport? Cricket explained for baseball fans translates it into American-sports terms, and the glossary defines every term you'll meet.
Is fantasy cricket legal in the US?
Daily fantasy sports is treated as a game of skill. On Runtiva, paid contests are available in 21 states and Washington, DC; in the other 29 states, contests are free to play. Runtiva confirms your eligibility automatically — location and identity are verified at signup, so you always know exactly what's available where you live. New here and want to know how we keep play safe and how payouts work? See is Runtiva legit. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Can you still play Dream11 in America?
Only for free. Dream11 ended paid contests worldwide after India banned real-money gaming in August 2025, and its US app is now a free-to-play watch-along experience — no cash contests. See the full explainer, Can you play Dream11 in the USA?, or jump straight to the real-money Dream11 alternatives for US players.
How fantasy cricket works on Runtiva
Runtiva uses the classic credit-budget format with captain and vice-captain multipliers — the format cricket fans already know — with format-aware scoring across T20, ODI, Test, T10, and 100-ball cricket, and live points that update within seconds of every ball. Contests are peer-to-peer: prize pools are funded by players and won by players. You can enter public contests, head-to-heads, or private contests with your own crew — and the same wallet plays American sports too (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, and college football and basketball on salary-cap slates). See how to play and the contest rules.
Which tournaments can you play?
Cricket runs nearly year-round for US fans: Major League Cricket at home every June–July, The Hundred (July–August), the Caribbean Premier League (August–September) in evening US time, the Big Bash (December–January) for night owls, the IPL (March–May), and international series and ICC events throughout the year — with cricket returning to the Olympics at LA28. The exact contest slate for each tournament is announced in the app as it goes live. Dates and Eastern start times for the whole season are on the US cricket calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Is fantasy cricket gambling?
Paid fantasy cricket on Runtiva is a peer-to-peer game of skill: you build a team under a fixed credit budget and score against other players' choices, not against the house. US law treats skill-based daily fantasy sports differently from sports betting. On Runtiva, paid contests are available in 21 states and Washington, DC; in the other 29 states, contests are free to play.
How old do I have to be to play?
You must be 18 or older, where legal. Age, identity, and location are verified at signup.
Does Runtiva have paid contests?
Yes. Paid contests with cash prizes are live now, alongside free contests — download the app to get started.
Can I try it for free first?
Yes. Runtiva runs free contests and Run Coins (virtual currency) contests, so you can learn the formats without depositing anything.
What happens if a match is rained out?
If a match is abandoned and a contest can't be scored, the contest is voided and entry fees are returned. See the contest rules for the exact handling of delays, reduced-overs matches, and multi-match contests.