For Sports Gambling To Be Legalised

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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 needing 17 runs to win against Australia.


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


He has actually made more than 10 contact the last thirty minutes - not to talk about the match but to keep modifying his bet.
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Five minutes previously his money was on Australia, however 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 forecast comes real, as India wins the match in a nail-biting finish.


"I have actually made $200 today," he states with a childish glee.
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For more than 3 decades he's been banking on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is illegal in India.


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


'Black money'


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


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


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


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


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


"Legally you can get away [with this], as the law is ambiguous for online gambling," says Mumbai- based legal representative HP Ranina.


But despite this, it is "offline gaming", done through call which control the market.


Require legalisation


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


The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established to recommend modifications 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 emerged.


Two franchises have been prohibited for 2 years after some players and group officials were found guilty of repairing parts of the match at the request of bookmakers.


The panel likewise argues that legalised sports betting will generate tax incomes for the exchequer that could total up to $2bn a year.


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


"I don't mind paying some money out my revenues, as long as I can gamble publicly," states our cricket bettor.


It would also open a huge business chance for licensed bookmakers and worldwide online wagering business to establish operations in India.


And it would assist restrict match repairing in cricket and other sports betting, argue numerous, 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 method 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 gambler and the bookmaker will need to be affordable to make it appealing enough for them to gamble lawfully.
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However, there are limitations.
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"Definitely there will be prohibited wagering due to the fact that (some) people wouldn't want to leave an audit trail by going into the white market," states Mr Oborne.


He adds that people who utilize unaccounted money to place huge bets will never bet lawfully.


Approval concern


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


"Even though many individuals are associated with some sort of gambling - it's still a controversial problem for many," says our unnamed punter.


And provided that India has a - each state will need to likewise pass a different law to legalise sports betting in their territory.
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"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 quickly."


Yet with the concept having actually been endorsed by an official panel for the very first time, at least a dispute has actually sparked around a subject - which till now was considered a taboo.