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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting in India
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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 needing 17 go to win against Australia.

In his two-bedroom home located in central Mumbai, a middle-aged man is watching the game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour couch with his smart phone glued to his right hand.

He has actually made more than 10 calls in the last 30 minutes - not to discuss the match but to keep modifying his bet.
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Five minutes previously his money was on Australia, today as the Indian batsman prepares to deal with the last over he's changed his mind.

"I believe India is winning, make the change," he informs his bookie on the phone.

And a couple of minutes later on his forecast comes true, 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 expose his name as what he's doing is unlawful in India.

Besides horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not permitted in India. Despite that, unlawful wagering syndicates flourish in the nation.

'Black money'

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 sports betting cash is directed towards cricket.

Without any legal avenue, 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 highest individual 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 sort of gaming in India, but unlike in the US which has a law prohibiting internet sports betting, there is absolutely nothing comparable here.

And overseas sports betting business are utilizing this loophole to draw Indians. Despite the fact that there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot individuals have signed up accounts with overseas companies.

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

But despite this, it is "offline gambling", done through telephone call which control the marketplace.

Require legalisation
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The clamour to legalise sports betting in cricket has grown after a panel selected by India's Supreme Court proposed the idea, stating it would assist secure down on corruption in the country's preferred sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up to recommend modifications in the functioning 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 prohibited for two years after some players and group officials were condemned of fixing parts of the match at the behest of bookies.

The panel likewise argues that legalised sports betting will bring in tax incomes for the exchequer that could amount to $2bn a year.

Even bettors feel that legalising sports betting is a move in the ideal instructions.

"I do not mind paying some cash out my revenues, as long as I can gamble openly," says our cricket bettor.

It would likewise open a substantial business opportunity for certified bookmakers and global online sports betting business to set up operations in India.

And it would help restrict match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue many, by helping make transactions associated with gambling more transparent.

"If you work together with wagering business, you will have a very efficient technique of stamping out match fixing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock sports betting website, India Bet.

But lots of also believe, that the taxes levied on the gambler and the bookie will need to be sensible to make it attractive enough for them to gamble lawfully.

However, there are limitations.

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

He adds that individuals who use unaccounted cash to position big bets will never bet legally.

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 hard concept to offer.

"Despite the fact that lots of people are associated with some sort of sports betting - it's still a questionable 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 area.

"The process is so long and challenging that it will take years," states Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this ending up being a reality anytime quickly."

Yet with the concept having actually been backed by an official panel for the very first time, a minimum of a debate has sparked around a topic - which until now was considered a taboo.
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