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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting in India

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5 February 2016

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By Sameer Hashmi

Mumbai Business press reporter

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

In his two-bedroom home located in main Mumbai, a middle-aged male is watching the video game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour sofa with his smart phone glued to his ideal hand.

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

Five minutes earlier his cash was on Australia, today as the Indian batsman prepares yourself to deal with the last over he's changed his mind.

"I think India is winning, make the change," he tells his bookie on the phone.

And a couple of minutes later his prediction comes to life, as India wins the match in a nail-biting finish.

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

For more than 3 decades he's been wagering on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is prohibited in India.

Besides horse racing, sports betting of any kind is not permitted in India. Despite that, illegal sports betting distributes thrive in the country.

'Black money'

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

With no legal opportunity, punters position bets using their phones by making calls to bookmakers. can bet on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the highest individual run scorer.
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The majority of these transactions include so-called "black money", which is cash not declared to the taxman.

The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any kind of sports betting in India, however unlike in the US which has a law forbiding internet gaming, there is nothing comparable here.

And overseas wagering business are utilizing this loophole to draw Indians. Despite the fact that there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot people have actually registered accounts with offshore companies.

"Legally you can get away [with this], as the law is unclear for online sports betting," states Mumbai- based attorney HP Ranina.

But regardless of this, it is "offline gambling", done through telephone call which dominate the marketplace.

Require legalisation

The clamour to legalise sports betting in cricket has grown after a panel designated by India's Supreme Court proposed the concept, saying it would assist clamp down on corruption in the country's favourite sport.

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

Two franchises have actually been banned for two years after some players and group officials were condemned of repairing parts of the match at the behest of bookmakers.

The panel also argues that legalised sports betting will generate tax profits for the exchequer that could amount to $2bn a year.

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

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

It would also open a big organization opportunity for certified bookmakers and worldwide online sports betting companies to set up operations in India.

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

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

But many likewise believe, that the taxes levied on the gambler and the bookie will need to be affordable to make it attractive enough for them to bet lawfully.

However, there are restrictions.
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"Definitely there will be prohibited wagering since (some) people would not wish to leave an audit path by entering the white market," says Mr Oborne.

He adds that individuals who utilize unaccounted money to put big bets will never gamble lawfully.

Approval concern

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

"Although many individuals are included in some sort of gambling - it's still a controversial issue for lots of," says our unnamed punter.

And considered that India has a federal structural - each state will have to also pass a different law to legalise sports betting gambling in their territory.
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"The process is so long and tricky that it will take years," says Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this becoming a reality anytime soon."

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