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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 requiring 17 go to win versus Australia.

In his two-bedroom house situated in main Mumbai, a middle-aged guy is enjoying the 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 contact the last thirty minutes - not to discuss the match however to keep modifying his bet.

Five minutes previously his cash was on Australia, now as the Indian batsman prepares to deal with the last over he's altered his mind.
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"I believe India is winning, make the modification," he tells his bookmaker on the phone.

And a couple of minutes later on his prediction comes to life, as India wins the match in a nail-biting surface.

"I have actually made $200 today," he says with a childish glee.
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For more than 3 years he's been sports betting 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 enabled in India. Despite that, prohibited wagering distributes grow 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.

Without any legal opportunity, punters put bets utilizing their phones by making calls to bookies. Gamblers can wager on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the highest specific run scorer.

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

The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any kind of gambling in India, but unlike in the US which has a law restricting internet gambling, there is nothing comparable here.

And overseas wagering 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 registered accounts with overseas companies.

"Legally you can escape [with this], as the law is ambiguous for online gambling," states Mumbai- based lawyer HP Ranina.

But regardless of this, it is "offline sports betting", done through call which dominate the marketplace.
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Require legalisation

The clamour to legalise sports betting in cricket has grown after a panel designated by India's Supreme Court proposed the idea, saying it would assist clamp down on corruption in the nation's favourite sport.

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

Two franchises have been prohibited for two years after some gamers and team authorities were discovered guilty of fixing parts of the match at the wish of bookmakers.

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

Even gamblers feel that legalising sports betting wagering is a relocation in the ideal direction.

"I don't mind paying some money out my revenues, as long as I can bet publicly," says our cricket gambler.

It would likewise open a big business opportunity for licensed bookies and international online sports betting companies to set up operations in India.

And it would help limit match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue many, by helping make deals included in gambling more transparent.

"If you work along with wagering business, you will have a very reliable technique of stamping out match fixing," says George Oborne, who runs a mock sports betting site, India Bet.

But numerous also believe, that the taxes levied on the gambler and the bookie will need to be reasonable to make it attractive enough for them to bet lawfully.

However, there are restrictions.

"Definitely there will be prohibited wagering due to the fact that (some) individuals wouldn't wish to leave an audit trail by going into the white market," states Mr Oborne.

He includes that people who use unaccounted cash to position big bets will never ever bet lawfully.

concern

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

"Despite the fact that lots of people are included in some sort of gambling - it's still a questionable concern for lots of," states our unnamed punter.
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And considered that India has a federal structural - each state will need to also pass a different law to legalise sports betting in their area.

"The process is so long and difficult that it will take years," states Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this coming true anytime quickly."

Yet with the concept having been endorsed by an official panel for the very first time, at least a debate has ignited around a topic - which previously was thought about a taboo.