1 For Sports Gambling to Be Legalised

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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
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It is the last over of the cricket match, with India needing 17 runs to win against 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 couch with his mobile phone glued to his best hand.

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

Five minutes previously his money was on Australia, and now as the Indian batsman gets all set 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 few minutes later on his prediction comes to life, 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 3 years he's been wagering on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is unlawful in India.

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

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

With no legal opportunity, punters put their phones by making calls to bookmakers. Gamblers can bet on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest private run scorer.

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 sort of sports betting in India, but unlike in the US which has a law restricting web sports betting, there is absolutely nothing comparable here.

And overseas wagering companies are using this loophole to tempt Indians. Although there are no online wagering operators based out of India, a lot individuals have actually registered accounts with offshore firms.

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

But regardless of this, it is "offline gaming", done through call which dominate 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, saying it would help secure down on corruption in the country's preferred sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established to recommend 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 sports betting scandal came to light.

Two franchises have been banned for two years after some players and team authorities were discovered guilty of repairing parts of the match at the wish of bookies.

The panel also argues that legalised sports betting will generate tax revenues for the exchequer that could total up 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 money out my profits, as long as I can bet openly," states our cricket bettor.
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It would also open a huge organization opportunity for licensed bookmakers and international online sports betting business to establish operations in India.

And it would help restrict match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue lots of, by helping make deals associated with sports betting more transparent.

"If you work together with sports betting companies, you will have an extremely reliable method of stamping out match fixing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering site, India Bet.

But lots of also believe, that the taxes imposed on the bettor and the bookie will have to be affordable to make it attractive enough for them to gamble lawfully.

However, there are limitations.

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

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

Approval question

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

"Despite the fact that lots of people are involved in some sort of sports betting - it's still a controversial issue for many," states our unnamed punter.

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

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

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