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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting in India

Published

5 February 2016
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By Sameer Hashmi

Mumbai Business reporter

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

In his two-bedroom house situated in central Mumbai, a middle-aged male is watching the game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour sofa with his mobile phone glued to his right-hand man.

He has made more than 10 contact the last 30 minutes - not to go over the match however to keep revising his bet.

Five minutes earlier his cash was on Australia, and now as the Indian batsman prepares yourself to deal with the last over he's altered his mind.

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

And a few minutes later on his prediction comes true, as India wins the match in a nail-biting surface.

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

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

Besides horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, illegal wagering syndicates prosper in the country.
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'Black cash'
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According to the Doha-based International Centre for sports betting Security, India's prohibited sports betting market deserves some $150bn a year. And much of that sports betting cash is directed towards cricket.
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Without any legal avenue, punters place bets using their phones by making calls to bookies. Gamblers can wager on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest specific run scorer.

Most of these transactions involve so-called "black cash", which is cash not declared to the taxman.

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

And offshore wagering business are using this loophole to tempt Indians. Despite the fact that there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot individuals have signed up accounts with offshore firms.
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"Legally you can escape [with this], as the law is unclear for online sports betting," states Mumbai- based legal representative HP Ranina.

But in spite of this, it is "offline gaming", done through telephone call which dominate the market.

Require legalisation

The to legalise wagering in cricket has actually grown after a panel designated by India's Supreme Court proposed the concept, stating it would assist clamp down on corruption in the country's favourite sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established to suggest changes in the functioning of India's cricket regulative body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), after the 2013 Indian Premier League sports betting scandal emerged.

Two franchises have actually been banned for 2 years after some players and team officials were found guilty of fixing parts of the match at the behest of bookmakers.

The panel also argues that legalised wagering will generate tax profits for the exchequer that could total up to $2bn a year.

Even gamblers feel that legalising sports betting wagering is a move in the best direction.
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"I don't mind paying some cash out my revenues, as long as I can bet openly," states our cricket bettor.

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

And it would help limit match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue lots of, by helping make transactions associated with sports betting more transparent.

"If you work along with wagering companies, you will have a really effective technique of stamping out match repairing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering website, India Bet.

But many also think, that the taxes imposed on the bettor and the bookmaker will have to be reasonable to make it attractive enough for them to bet legally.

However, there are restrictions.

"Definitely there will be illegal wagering since (some) individuals would not wish to leave an audit trail by entering the white market," says Mr Oborne.

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

For sports betting to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be needed to create a brand-new law, and politically this will be a difficult concept to offer.

"Despite the fact that numerous individuals are involved in some sort of sports betting - it's still a questionable concern for lots of," states our unnamed punter.

And provided that India has a federal structural - each state will have to also pass a separate 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 negative about this coming true anytime quickly."

Yet with the idea having actually been backed by a main panel for the first time, at least a debate has ignited around a subject - which previously was thought about a taboo.