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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting in India

Published

5 February 2016

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By Sameer Hashmi
bit.ly
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 home located in central Mumbai, a middle-aged man is viewing the game, nervously. He's resting on the edge of his grey colour sofa with his cellphone glued to his right-hand man.

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

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

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

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

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

Aside from horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, unlawful sports betting syndicates prosper in the nation.

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

With no legal avenue, punters put bets utilizing their phones by making calls to bookmakers. Gamblers can bank on anything associated to the cricket match, from who is winning to the highest specific run scorer.
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The majority of these deals include so-called "black cash", which is money not declared to the taxman.

The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any kind of gaming in India, but unlike in the US which has a law prohibiting internet gaming, there is nothing similar here.

And overseas sports betting 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 signed up accounts with overseas firms.

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

But despite this, it is "offline sports betting", done through call which control the marketplace.

Calls for legalisation

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

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up to recommend 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 sports betting scandal emerged.

Two franchises have actually been prohibited for 2 years after some players and team officials were condemned of repairing parts of the match at the behest of bookies.
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The panel also argues that legalised wagering will generate tax earnings for the exchequer that could total up to $2bn a year.

Even gamblers feel that legalising sports betting is a relocation in the ideal direction.

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

It would also open a substantial company opportunity for licensed bookmakers and international online wagering companies to set up operations in India.

And it would assist limit match repairing in cricket and other sports betting, argue numerous, by helping make deals involved in sports betting more transparent.

"If you work alongside sports betting business, you will have a very efficient method of marking out match fixing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering website, India Bet.

But lots of also believe, that the taxes levied on the gambler and the bookie will have to be sensible to make it appealing enough for them to gamble lawfully.
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However, there are constraints.

"Definitely there will be unlawful sports betting since (some) people wouldn't want to leave an audit trail by getting in the white market," states Mr Oborne.

He adds that people who utilize unaccounted cash to place huge bets will never gamble legally.

Approval question

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

"Although lots of individuals are included in some sort of sports betting - it's still a questionable concern for lots of," says our unnamed punter.

And given that India has a federal structural - each state will have to also pass a separate law to legalise sports betting in their territory.

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

Yet with the idea having been backed by an official panel for the very first time, at least a debate has actually ignited around a topic - which previously was considered a taboo.