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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting wagering 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 against Australia.

In his two-bedroom house located in central Mumbai, a middle-aged man is seeing the video game, nervously. He's resting 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 30 minutes - not to discuss the match but to keep modifying his bet.

Five minutes previously his cash was on Australia, now as the prepares to deal with the last over he's altered his mind.

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

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

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

For more than three years he's been sports betting on cricket matches. We can't expose his name as what he's doing is unlawful in India.

Other than horse racing, sports betting of any kind is not permitted in India. Despite that, prohibited wagering syndicates flourish in the nation.

'Black money'

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 gambling money is directed towards cricket.

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

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

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

And offshore sports betting business are using this loophole to draw Indians. Although there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot individuals have registered accounts with offshore companies.

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

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

Require legalisation

The clamour to legalise wagering in cricket has grown after a panel designated by India's Supreme Court proposed the concept, saying it would help 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 regulatory body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), after the 2013 Indian Premier League wagering scandal came to light.

Two franchises have been banned for two years after some players and team officials were condemned of repairing 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 might amount to $2bn a year.

Even gamblers 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 substantial organization chance for certified bookmakers and worldwide 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 deals involved in sports betting more transparent.

"If you work along with wagering business, you will have an extremely effective technique of stamping out match repairing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering website, India Bet.
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But many also believe, that the taxes imposed on the bettor and the bookmaker will need to be affordable to make it appealing enough for them to gamble legally.

However, there are limitations.

"Definitely there will be illegal wagering due to the fact that (some) people would not want to leave an audit path by going into the white market," says Mr Oborne.

He adds that individuals who use unaccounted cash to put huge bets will never ever bet lawfully.

Approval question

For sports betting to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be required to create a brand-new law, and politically this will be a tough idea to offer.
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"Despite the fact that many people are involved in some sort of gambling - it's still a questionable concern for numerous," states our unnamed punter.

And offered that India has a federal structural - each state will need to also pass a different law to legalise sports betting in their area.
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"The procedure is so long and tricky that it will take years," states Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this ending up being a reality anytime soon."

Yet with the idea having actually been endorsed by an official panel for the first time, a minimum of a debate has fired up around a subject - which previously was considered a taboo.
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