For Sports Gambling To Be Legalised

Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting wagering in India


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 versus Australia.
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In his two-bedroom house situated in main Mumbai, a middle-aged male is enjoying the video game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour sofa with his smart phone glued to his right hand.


He has made more than 10 calls in the last thirty minutes - not to go over the match but to keep modifying his bet.
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Five minutes previously his money was on Australia, but now as the Indian batsman prepares to face the last over he's altered his mind.


"I think India is winning, make the change," he tells his bookmaker on the phone.


And a couple of minutes later his forecast comes real, as India wins the match in a nail-biting surface.


"I have made $200 today," he says with a childlike glee.
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For more than three years 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, unlawful sports betting syndicates thrive in the country.


'Black cash'


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


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


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


The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any kind of sports betting in India, but unlike in the US which has a law prohibiting web sports betting, there is absolutely nothing comparable here.


And offshore wagering business are using this loophole to lure Indians. Although there are no online wagering operators based out of India, a lot people have signed up accounts with offshore firms.


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


But in spite of this, it is "offline sports betting", done through phone calls which control the market.


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, saying it would assist secure down on corruption in the nation's preferred sport.


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


Two franchises have been banned for 2 years after some players and group authorities were condemned of fixing parts of the match at the wish of bookmakers.


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


Even gamblers feel that legalising sports betting wagering is a relocation in the best instructions.


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


It would likewise open a substantial organization chance for certified bookies and international online sports betting business to establish operations in India.
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And it would assist restrict match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue lots of, by assisting make deals associated with sports betting more transparent.


"If you work together with wagering companies, you will have a very effective approach of marking out match fixing," says George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering site, India Bet.


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


However, there are limitations.


"Definitely there will be prohibited wagering because (some) people wouldn't wish to leave an audit trail by entering the white market," states Mr Oborne.


He includes that people who utilize unaccounted cash to place huge bets will never ever bet legally.


Approval concern


For sports betting gambling to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be required to create a new law, and politically this will be a hard concept to offer.


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


And offered that India has a federal structural - each state will have to also pass a different law to legalise sports betting gambling in their territory.
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"The procedure 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 an official panel for the very first time, a minimum of a debate has sparked around a topic - which previously was considered a taboo.