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 press reporter

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

In his two-bedroom home situated in main Mumbai, a middle-aged man is enjoying the video game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour sofa with his mobile phone glued to his best hand.

He has made more than 10 employ the last thirty minutes - not to discuss the match but to keep revising his bet.

Five minutes earlier his money was on Australia, today as the Indian batsman prepares yourself to face the last over he's changed his mind.

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

And a few minutes later his forecast comes true, as India wins the match in a nail-biting finish.

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

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

Other than horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not enabled in India. Despite that, illegal wagering syndicates flourish in the country.

'Black cash'

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 money is directed towards cricket.

With no legal opportunity, punters place bets utilizing their phones by making calls to bookmakers. Gamblers can bank on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the highest specific run scorer.

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

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

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

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

But in spite of this, it is "offline gambling", done through phone calls which control the marketplace.

Calls for legalisation

The clamour to legalise wagering in cricket has grown after a panel designated by India's Supreme Court proposed the concept, stating it would help secure down on corruption in the nation's preferred sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established to suggest modifications in the functioning of India's cricket regulative 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 gamers and team authorities were condemned of repairing parts of the match at the request of bookies.

The panel also argues that legalised sports betting will bring in tax revenues for the exchequer that might total up to $2bn a year.

Even bettors feel that legalising sports betting is a relocation in the ideal instructions.

"I don't mind paying some cash out my earnings, as long as I can bet openly," says our cricket bettor.

It would also open a substantial organization opportunity for certified bookmakers and worldwide online wagering companies to set up operations in India.

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

"If you work together with sports betting business, you will have a very reliable method of stamping out match repairing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock sports betting website, India Bet.

But numerous also think, that the taxes levied on the bettor and the bookie will need to be affordable to make it appealing enough for them to gamble legally.

However, there are .

"Definitely there will be illegal wagering due to the fact that (some) people wouldn't wish to leave an audit path by getting in the white market," says Mr Oborne.

He includes that individuals who utilize unaccounted money to put big 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 difficult concept to sell.

"Although lots of people are involved in some sort of gambling - it's still a questionable concern for lots of," states our unnamed punter.

And considered that India has a federal structural - each state will need to also pass a separate law to legalise sports betting gambling in their area.
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"The process is so long and challenging 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 actually been backed by a main panel for the very first time, at least a debate has ignited around a topic - which previously was considered a taboo.
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