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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 press reporter

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

In his two-bedroom home located in main Mumbai, a middle-aged guy is viewing the game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour couch with his smart phone glued to his right hand.

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

Five minutes previously his cash was on Australia, today as the Indian batsman gets ready to deal with the last over he's altered his mind.

"I think India is winning, make the modification," he informs his bookmaker on the phone.

And a few minutes later his prediction comes to life, as the match in a nail-biting finish.

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

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

Other than horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, illegal sports betting distributes thrive in the country.

'Black cash'

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

With no legal avenue, punters position bets using 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.

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

The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any sort of gaming in India, but unlike in the US which has a law forbiding web gaming, there is absolutely nothing similar here.

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

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

But in spite of this, it is "offline sports betting", 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 concept, stating it would assist secure down on corruption in the nation's favourite sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established to recommend changes 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 came to light.

Two franchises have actually been prohibited for 2 years after some gamers and group officials were found guilty of fixing parts of the match at the behest of bookies.

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

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

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

It would likewise open a huge service chance for licensed bookmakers and international online sports betting companies to establish operations in India.

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

"If you work alongside sports betting companies, you will have a very reliable approach of stamping out match fixing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock sports betting website, India Bet.

But lots of also believe, that the taxes levied on the gambler and the bookmaker will need to be sensible to make it attractive enough for them to bet legally.

However, there are constraints.

"Definitely there will be prohibited sports betting due to the fact that (some) people wouldn't wish to leave an audit path by entering the white market," says Mr Oborne.

He includes that people who utilize unaccounted cash to position huge bets will never ever gamble lawfully.

Approval question

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

"Although lots of people are associated with some sort of sports betting - it's still a questionable concern for lots of," says 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.

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

Yet with the concept having been backed by a main panel for the first time, a minimum of a debate has actually ignited around a subject - which till now was considered a taboo.
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