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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting in India

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 requiring 17 runs to win versus Australia.

In his two-bedroom house located in main Mumbai, a middle-aged guy is watching the video game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour sofa with his mobile phone glued to his right-hand man.

He has actually made more than 10 employ the last thirty minutes - not to talk about the match but to keep revising his bet.

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

"I believe India is winning, make the change," he informs his bookie on the phone.

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

"I have actually made $200 today," he states with a childish glee.
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For more than three years he's been sports betting on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is illegal in India.

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

'Black cash'

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

Without any legal opportunity, punters position bets using their phones by making calls to bookies. Gamblers can bet on anything associated to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest individual run scorer.

The majority of these transactions involve so-called "black cash", which is cash not stated to the taxman.

The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any sort of sports betting in India, but unlike in the US which has a law restricting gambling, there is absolutely nothing comparable here.

And overseas wagering business are using this loophole to lure Indians. Despite the fact that there are no online wagering operators based out of India, a lot individuals have actually signed up accounts with offshore companies.

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

But in spite of this, it is "offline sports betting", done through phone calls which dominate the marketplace.
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Calls for legalisation

The clamour to legalise wagering in cricket has grown after a panel designated by India's Supreme Court proposed the idea, stating it would help clamp down on corruption in the country's preferred sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up to suggest modifications in the functioning 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 actually been banned for two years after some players and team officials were condemned of fixing parts of the match at the wish of bookmakers.

The panel also argues that legalised sports betting will bring in tax profits for the exchequer that could total up to $2bn a year.

Even bettors feel that legalising sports betting is a move in the best instructions.

"I don't mind paying some money out my revenues, as long as I can bet openly," says our cricket gambler.

It would also open a big company opportunity for certified bookmakers and worldwide online wagering companies to establish operations in India.
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And it would assist limit match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue many, by assisting make deals included in sports betting more transparent.

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

But lots of likewise think, that the taxes imposed on the gambler and the bookie will have to be affordable to make it attractive enough for them to bet legally.

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

He adds that people who use unaccounted money to put huge bets will never ever gamble legally.

Approval concern

For sports betting to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be needed to produce a new law, and politically this will be a hard concept to sell.

"Despite the fact that lots of individuals are associated with some sort of gambling - it's still a controversial concern for numerous," states our unnamed punter.

And considered that India has a federal structural - each state will need to likewise pass a separate law to legalise sports betting gambling in their territory.

"The process is so long and tricky that it will take years," states Mr Ranina."That's why, we are negative about this coming true anytime quickly."

Yet with the idea having been endorsed by a main panel for the very first time, at least a debate has fired up around a topic - which previously was thought about a taboo.