Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting 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 runs to win against Australia.
In his two-bedroom home situated in main Mumbai, a middle-aged guy is seeing the video game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour couch with his mobile phone glued to his right-hand man.
He has actually made more than 10 hire the last thirty minutes - not to talk about the match but to keep modifying his bet.
Five minutes previously his cash was on Australia, today as the Indian batsman prepares to deal with the last over he's changed his mind.
"I think India is winning, make the modification," he informs his bookie on the phone.
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And a few minutes later on his forecast comes to life, as India wins the match in a nail-biting finish.
"I have actually made $200 today," he states with a childlike glee.
For more than 3 decades he's been wagering on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is illegal in India.
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Aside from horse racing, sports betting of any kind is not permitted in India. Despite that, illegal wagering syndicates thrive in the country.
'Black cash'
According to the Doha-based International Centre for sports betting Security, India's illegal sports betting market is worth some $150bn a year. And much of that gambling cash is directed towards cricket.
With no legal avenue, put bets using their phones by making calls to bookmakers. Gamblers can bank on anything associated to the cricket match, from who is winning to the highest private run scorer.
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Most of these deals involve so-called "black money", which is money not declared to the taxman.
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The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any type of gambling in India, however unlike in the US which has a law restricting web gaming, there is absolutely nothing comparable here.
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And overseas sports betting companies are using this loophole to entice Indians. Despite the fact that there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot people have registered accounts with overseas firms.
"Legally you can get away [with this], as the law is unclear for online gambling," says Mumbai- based legal representative HP Ranina.
But regardless of this, it is "offline gambling", done through call which control the market.
Calls for legalisation
The clamour to legalise sports betting in cricket has actually grown after a panel appointed by India's Supreme Court proposed the idea, saying it would help secure down on corruption in the country's favourite sport.
The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established to recommend changes in the performance of India's cricket regulatory body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), after the 2013 Indian Premier League sports betting scandal emerged.
Two franchises have been banned for 2 years after some gamers and team officials were discovered guilty of repairing parts of the match at the wish of bookmakers.
The panel likewise argues that legalised wagering will generate tax incomes for the exchequer that could amount to $2bn a year.
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Even gamblers feel that legalising sports betting wagering is a move in the right instructions.
"I do not mind paying some cash out my profits, as long as I can gamble openly," states our cricket bettor.
It would also open a huge business opportunity for certified bookmakers and worldwide online sports betting business to establish operations in India.
And it would assist limit match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue many, by helping make transactions associated with sports betting more transparent.
"If you work along with sports betting companies, you will have a very efficient approach of marking out match fixing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock sports betting website, India Bet.
But numerous likewise believe, that the taxes imposed on the bettor and the bookie will have to be affordable to make it appealing enough for them to gamble lawfully.
However, there are restrictions.
"Definitely there will be illegal sports betting due to the fact that (some) people wouldn't want to leave an audit trail by entering the white market," says Mr Oborne.
He adds that people who use unaccounted cash to place huge bets will never ever bet lawfully.
Approval concern
For sports betting gambling to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be needed to create a new law, and politically this will be a hard idea to sell.
"Despite the fact that numerous individuals are included in some sort of gaming - it's still a controversial concern for lots of," says our unnamed punter.
And given that India has a federal structural - each state will need to also pass a different law to legalise sports betting in their territory.
"The process is so long and difficult that it will take years," says Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this coming true anytime soon."
Yet with the idea having been backed by an official panel for the very first time, at least a dispute has ignited around a subject - which until now was considered a taboo.
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For Sports Gambling to Be Legalised
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