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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting in India

Published

5 February 2016

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By Sameer Hashmi
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Mumbai Business reporter
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It is the last over of the match, with India requiring 17 go to win against Australia.

In his two-bedroom home located in central Mumbai, a middle-aged man is seeing the 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 go over the match however to keep modifying his bet.

Five minutes earlier his cash was on Australia, now as the Indian batsman prepares yourself to face 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 couple of minutes later his prediction becomes a reality, as India wins the match in a nail-biting finish.

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

For more than 3 decades he's been banking on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is unlawful in India.
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Other than horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, prohibited wagering distributes thrive in the nation.
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'Black cash'

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

Without any legal opportunity, punters put bets using their phones by making calls to bookies. Gamblers can bank on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest private run scorer.
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The majority of these transactions involve so-called "black cash", which is money not stated to the taxman.

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

And offshore sports betting companies are utilizing this loophole to tempt Indians. Despite the fact that there are no online wagering operators based out of India, a lot people have actually registered accounts with offshore firms.

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

But regardless of this, it is "offline gambling", done through telephone call which control the market.

Calls for legalisation

The clamour to legalise sports betting in cricket has actually grown after a panel designated by India's Supreme Court proposed the idea, saying it would assist secure down on corruption in the country's favourite sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up 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 emerged.

Two franchises have actually been prohibited for two years after some players and group authorities were condemned of repairing parts of the match at the behest of bookies.

The panel also argues that legalised sports betting will generate tax profits for the exchequer that might amount 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 cash out my revenues, as long as I can gamble openly," states our cricket gambler.

It would likewise open a big organization chance for certified bookmakers and international online wagering business to set up operations in India.

And it would assist restrict match repairing in cricket and other sports betting, argue lots of, by helping make transactions associated with gambling more transparent.
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"If you work along with wagering companies, you will have a very effective approach of marking out match fixing," says George Oborne, who runs a mock sports betting website, India Bet.

But many likewise believe, that the taxes levied on the bettor and the bookie will have to be affordable to make it appealing enough for them to gamble lawfully.

However, there are limitations.
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"Definitely there will be unlawful sports betting due to the fact that (some) individuals wouldn't wish to leave an audit trail by going into the white market," says Mr Oborne.

He includes that people who use unaccounted money to put big bets will never ever bet legally.

Approval question

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

"Despite the fact that many individuals are associated with some sort of sports betting - it's still a controversial problem for numerous," states our unnamed punter.

And provided that India has a federal structural - each state will have to also pass a different law to legalise sports betting in their area.

"The procedure is so long and difficult that it will take years," says Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this ending up being a truth anytime soon."

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