For Sports Gambling To Be Legalised

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Howzat? The clamour to wagering in India


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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 go to win against Australia.


In his two-bedroom home located in main Mumbai, a middle-aged male is enjoying the game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour couch with his mobile phone glued to his best hand.


He has actually made more than 10 contact the last 30 minutes - not to talk about the match but to keep revising his bet.


Five minutes previously his money was on Australia, and now as the Indian batsman prepares to face 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 couple of minutes later on his forecast becomes a reality, 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 banking on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is illegal in India.


Besides horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not allowed in India. Despite that, prohibited sports betting syndicates prosper in the nation.


'Black cash'


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


With no legal opportunity, punters put bets using their phones by making calls to bookies. Gamblers can bet on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the highest private run scorer.


Most of these deals include so-called "black money", which is cash not declared 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 forbiding internet gambling, there is nothing comparable here.


And offshore sports betting companies are using this loophole to lure Indians. Although there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot individuals have registered accounts with offshore firms.
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"Legally you can get away [with this], as the law is ambiguous for online gambling," says Mumbai- based legal representative HP Ranina.
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But in spite of this, it is "offline sports betting", done through telephone call which dominate the marketplace.


Calls for legalisation


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


The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established to suggest changes in the performance 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 actually been banned for two years after some gamers and group officials were discovered guilty of fixing parts of the match at the behest of bookies.


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


Even bettors feel that legalising sports betting is a relocation in the best direction.


"I do not mind paying some money out my profits, as long as I can bet publicly," says our cricket bettor.


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


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


"If you work along with wagering business, you will have a really reliable method of stamping out match fixing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering site, India Bet.


But numerous also believe, that the taxes imposed on the gambler and the bookie will have to be sensible to make it attractive enough for them to bet legally.


However, there are restrictions.


"Definitely there will be unlawful wagering since (some) individuals wouldn't desire to leave an audit path by going into the white market," states Mr Oborne.
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He adds that people who use unaccounted cash to put big bets will never ever gamble lawfully.


Approval question


For sports betting gambling to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be needed to develop a brand-new law, and politically this will be a tough concept to sell.


"Despite the fact that many individuals are associated with some sort of sports betting - it's still a questionable issue for numerous," says our unnamed punter.


And considered that India has a federal structural - each state will have to also pass a separate law to legalise sports betting gambling in their territory.


"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 debate has ignited around a subject - which until now was thought about a taboo.