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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting in India
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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 needing 17 runs to win versus Australia.

In his two-bedroom house located in central Mumbai, a middle-aged guy is viewing the video 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 made more than 10 hire the last thirty minutes - not to go over the match however to keep revising his bet.

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

"I believe India is winning, make the change," 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 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 unlawful in India.

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

'Black cash'

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

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

Most of these deals include so-called "black money", which is cash not declared to the taxman.

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

And offshore wagering business are utilizing this loophole to tempt Indians. Even though there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot individuals have actually signed up accounts with offshore firms.

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

But despite this, it is "offline gaming", done through call 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 idea, saying it would help secure down on corruption in the nation's favourite sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established to recommend modifications in the performance of India's cricket regulative body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), after the 2013 Indian Premier League wagering scandal emerged.

Two franchises have actually been prohibited for two years after some players and group authorities were found guilty of fixing parts of the match at the behest of bookmakers.

The panel also argues that legalised wagering will generate tax revenues for the exchequer that might total up to $2bn a year.

Even gamblers feel that legalising sports betting wagering is a move in the ideal instructions.

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

It would also open a big business chance for certified bookies and worldwide online wagering companies to establish operations in India.

And it would assist restrict match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue numerous, by assisting make deals involved in sports betting more transparent.

"If you work alongside wagering companies, you will have a very reliable technique of marking out match fixing," says George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering site, India Bet.

But many also believe, that the taxes imposed on the gambler and the bookmaker will have to be sensible to make it appealing enough for them to bet lawfully.

However, there are limitations.

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

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

Approval question

For sports betting to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be required to develop a new law, and politically this will be a hard idea to sell.

"Despite the fact that numerous people are associated with some sort of gaming - it's still a controversial issue for numerous," says our unnamed punter.

And given that India has a federal structural - each state will need to likewise pass a separate law to legalise sports betting in their territory.
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"The procedure is so long and tricky that it will take years," states Mr Ranina."That's why, we are negative about this coming true anytime soon."

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