Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting in India
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Published

5 February 2016

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By Sameer Hashmi

Mumbai Business reporter

It is the last over of the cricket match, with India needing 17 go to win against Australia.

In his two-bedroom home located in main Mumbai, a middle-aged man is enjoying the game, nervously. He's resting on the edge of his grey colour sofa with his smart phone glued to his right-hand man.

He has actually made more than 10 contact the last 30 minutes - not to discuss the match however to keep revising his bet.

Five minutes previously his cash was on Australia, and now as the Indian batsman prepares to face the last over he's changed his mind.

"I believe India is winning, make the modification," he tells his bookie on the phone.

And a few minutes later on his prediction becomes a reality, as India wins the match in a nail-biting surface.

"I have made $200 today," he states with a childlike glee.

For more than three years he's been banking on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is illegal in India.

Other than horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, unlawful sports betting syndicates thrive in the nation.

'Black cash'

According to the Doha-based International Centre for sports betting Security, India's illegal sports betting market deserves some $150bn a year. And much of that gambling cash is directed towards cricket.

With no legal opportunity, punters position bets utilizing their phones by making calls to bookmakers. Gamblers can bank on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest individual run scorer.

Most of these deals involve so-called "black money", which is cash not stated to the taxman.

The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any kind of gaming in India, however unlike in the US which has a law restricting web gaming, there is absolutely nothing comparable here.

And offshore sports betting business are utilizing this loophole to lure Indians. Even though there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot individuals have signed up accounts with overseas firms.

"Legally you can escape [with this], as the law is uncertain for online gambling," says Mumbai- based attorney HP Ranina.

But regardless of this, it is "offline gaming", done through call which control the market.

Calls for legalisation

The clamour to legalise sports betting in cricket has actually grown after a panel selected by India's Supreme Court proposed the concept, stating it would help secure down on corruption in the country's favourite sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up to suggest changes in the performance of India's cricket regulative body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), after the 2013 Indian Premier League sports betting scandal emerged.

Two franchises have been prohibited for two years after some gamers and team authorities were condemned of repairing parts of the match at the behest of bookmakers.

The panel also argues that legalised wagering will bring in tax incomes for the exchequer that might amount to $2bn a year.

Even bettors feel that legalising sports betting wagering is a move in the right direction.

"I do not mind paying some money out my profits, as long as I can bet openly," states our cricket gambler.

It would also open a huge organization opportunity for licensed bookmakers and international online wagering business to set up operations in India.

And it would assist limit match repairing in cricket and other sports betting, argue lots of, by assisting make transactions associated with gambling more transparent.

"If you work together with sports betting business, you will have a really effective technique of stamping out match repairing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock sports betting site, India Bet.

But lots of likewise think, that the taxes levied on the gambler and the bookie will have to be affordable to make it appealing enough for them to gamble lawfully.

However, there are restrictions.

"Definitely there will be prohibited wagering due to the fact that (some) individuals wouldn't wish to leave an audit trail by entering the white market," says Mr Oborne.

He adds that people who use unaccounted money to place huge bets will never bet lawfully.

Approval question

For sports betting gambling to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be required to create a new law, and politically this will be a difficult idea to offer.

"Despite the fact that many individuals are involved in some sort of gambling - it's still a questionable concern for many," states our unnamed punter.

And given that India has a federal structural - each state will need to likewise pass a different law to legalise sports betting gambling in their territory.
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"The procedure is so long and challenging that it will take years," says Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this coming true anytime soon."

Yet with the concept having been backed by a main panel for the very first time, a minimum of a has sparked around a topic - which previously was thought about a taboo.
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