Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting wagering in India
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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 located in central Mumbai, a middle-aged male is seeing the video game, nervously. He's resting on the edge of his grey colour sofa with his mobile phone glued to his right-hand man.

He has actually made more than 10 hire the last thirty minutes - not to discuss the match but to keep modifying his bet.
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Five minutes previously his money was on Australia, now as the Indian batsman prepares to face the last over he's altered his mind.
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"I believe India is winning, make the modification," he tells his bookie on the phone.

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

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

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

Aside from horse racing, sports betting of any kind is not India. Despite that, unlawful wagering syndicates grow in the nation.

'Black cash'

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 gambling cash is directed towards cricket.

Without any legal opportunity, 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 greatest individual run scorer.

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

The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any type of sports betting in India, however unlike in the US which has a law restricting web sports betting, there is nothing comparable here.

And overseas sports betting business are using this loophole to draw Indians. Although 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 gaming," says Mumbai- based legal representative HP Ranina.

But regardless of this, it is "offline gambling", done through call which dominate the market.

Require legalisation

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

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established 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 came to light.
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Two franchises have been prohibited for two years after some gamers and team officials were condemned of fixing parts of the match at the request of bookies.

The panel likewise argues that legalised wagering will generate tax revenues for the exchequer that might amount to $2bn a year.

Even gamblers 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 publicly," says our cricket bettor.

It would also open a substantial service opportunity for certified bookmakers and global online wagering business to set up operations in India.

And it would assist limit match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue many, by assisting make transactions involved in sports betting more transparent.

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

But many also believe, that the taxes imposed on the gambler and the bookmaker will have to be affordable to make it attractive enough for them to gamble legally.

However, there are constraints.

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

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

Approval question

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

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

And considered that India has a federal structural - each state will have to likewise pass a different law to legalise sports betting gambling in their territory.
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"The procedure is so long and challenging that it will take years," says Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this coming true anytime soon."

Yet with the concept having actually been backed by a main panel for the very first time, at least a debate has ignited around a topic - which until now was considered a taboo.
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