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 reporter

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

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

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

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

"I think India is winning, make the modification," he informs his bookie on the phone.

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

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

For more than 3 decades he's been banking on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is unlawful in India.
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Other than horse racing, sports betting of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, prohibited wagering syndicates grow in the nation.

'Black money'

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

Without any legal avenue, punters put bets using their phones by making calls to bookies. Gamblers can bank on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest specific run scorer.

The of these deals include so-called "black money", which is money not declared 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 web gaming, there is absolutely nothing comparable here.

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

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

But regardless of this, it is "offline gambling", done through phone calls which control the market.

Calls for legalisation

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

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up to suggest modifications in the performance of India's cricket regulatory body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), after the 2013 Indian Premier League wagering scandal came to light.
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Two franchises have been prohibited for two years after some gamers and team officials were condemned of fixing parts of the match at the wish of bookies.
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The panel also argues that legalised sports betting will bring in tax earnings for the exchequer that might total up to $2bn a year.

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

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

It would likewise open a big company chance for certified bookies and international online sports betting companies to establish operations in India.

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

"If you work alongside sports betting business, you will have an extremely effective technique of marking out match fixing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock sports betting site, India Bet.
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But lots of likewise believe, that the taxes levied on the gambler and the bookmaker will have to be affordable to make it appealing enough for them to gamble legally.

However, there are limitations.

"Definitely there will be unlawful sports betting since (some) individuals would not wish to leave an audit path by getting in the white market," states Mr Oborne.

He includes that individuals who utilize unaccounted money to put huge bets will never ever bet lawfully.

Approval question

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

"Even though many people are associated with 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 need to likewise pass a different law to legalise sports betting gambling in their area.

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

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