Invite codes and referral codes get used interchangeably in fantasy cricket circles, but they are not the same thing on the current free-to-play product. Mixing them up leads to missed rewards and, in the worst cases, to fake sites that promise bonuses that no longer exist. This piece walks through what each kind of code does, where to find them, and how to handle the cases where a code does not seem to work.
What an invite code actually is
An invite code is a string that lets you join a private contest room. The code is tied to the room, not to a user account. When you paste a code into the join field in the app, the app checks the code against its room database and opens the room if it exists. If the room is full or the lock timer has passed, the code will not work, even if it was generated correctly.
Two properties of invite codes that are worth knowing:
- Invite codes are case sensitive. A common mistake is to type a code into a chat window, have the chat autocorrect change the case, and then paste the corrected version into the app.
- Invite codes are tied to a match. The same room name with two different matches will have two different codes. Always check that the match in the room matches the match you want to join.
What a referral code actually is
A referral code is a string that identifies the user who shared it. The product uses referral codes to track who introduced whom, so the referrer can be credited for the introduction. The credit on the current free-to-play product is non-monetary, usually in the form of leaderboard credits or badges, and it does not change the experience of the new user in any meaningful way.
Three properties of referral codes that are worth knowing:
- Referral codes do not unlock any special content. If a forwarded message promises that a referral code unlocks paid contests, that message is out of date. Paid contests have not been available since August 2025.
- Referral codes do not need to be entered at the moment of sign-up. The product usually lets the user enter a referral code from the account settings after sign-up. The credit is applied once both the referrer and the referee meet the minimum activity threshold.
- Referral codes are personal. They identify a specific user. Sharing a referral code publicly is fine, but it does not generate any extra credit for the user who shared it.
Promo codes and bonus codes, the third category
There is a third kind of code that circulates in the same conversations, the promo or bonus code. Promo codes are issued by the operator to mark a specific event, season or campaign. On the current free-to-play product, promo codes usually unlock small non-monetary rewards such as a leaderboard badge or a seasonal avatar.
Three properties of promo codes that are worth knowing:
- Promo codes have expiry dates. Most codes expire at the end of the season or the campaign they were issued for. A code that worked during the IPL season may not work three months later.
- Promo codes do not unlock paid contests. If a code is being marketed as unlocking a paid contest, it is either fake or out of date.
- Promo codes are single-use. Once a code has been redeemed against an account, it cannot be redeemed again on the same account.
How to spot a fake code
The fake-code problem has grown since the move to free-to-play, because the legitimate product no longer offers the kind of paid rewards that fake sites once imitated. The pattern is consistent: a fake code is offered through a forwarded message, a Telegram group or a shortened link, and the user is asked to install an APK or enter the code on a website that looks like the operator’s site but is not.
Three habits close most of that risk:
- Always enter codes inside the official app or the official website. If a forwarded message asks you to enter a code on a third-party site, treat the message as suspect.
- Never install an APK from a forwarded link in exchange for a code. The code is not the bait. The APK is the bait, and the code is the pretext.
- Be cautious with codes shared through shortened links. A shortened link can mask a third-party domain. If a code has been shared with a shortened link, ask the sender for the underlying domain before tapping the link.
What to do when a code does not work
The first step is to confirm the code is being entered in the right field. Invite codes go in the room join field, referral codes go in the account settings, and promo codes go in the promo field in the account or wallet area. Mixing the fields up is the single most common reason a code does not work.
The second step is to confirm the code has not expired. Most codes have a visible expiry date in the message they were shared through. Codes shared through screenshots can be hard to date, so the safe approach is to assume any code more than a few months old is no longer valid.
The third step is to confirm the code came from the operator. If the code arrived in a forwarded message that also asked for an install, a permission or a personal detail, the code is almost certainly fake. The operator’s customer support flow can confirm whether a code was issued at all.
How this connects to the rest of the blog
The private contest piece explains how a room code circulates within a small group. The install guide explains how to verify that the device is running the genuine product before any code is entered. The safety piece covers what to do when a forwarded message asks for an install or a personal detail alongside a code. The three pieces form a single workflow from receiving a code through to using it safely.