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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting 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 requiring 17 go to win against Australia.

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

He has made more than 10 hire the last thirty minutes - not to talk about the match however to keep modifying his bet.

Five minutes previously his cash was on Australia, now as the Indian batsman prepares yourself to deal with the last over he's altered his mind.

"I think India is winning, make the change," he tells his bookie 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 made $200 today," he says with a childish glee.

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

Aside from horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, unlawful sports betting distributes flourish in the country.

'Black money'

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.

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

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

The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any sort of sports betting in India, but unlike in the US which has a law restricting internet gambling, there is nothing comparable here.
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And offshore sports betting business are using this loophole to tempt 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 get away [with this], as the law is ambiguous for online sports betting," states Mumbai- based legal representative HP Ranina.

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

Require legalisation

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

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up to suggest modifications 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 prohibited for 2 years after some gamers and group officials were found guilty of fixing parts of the match at the request of bookies.

The panel also argues that legalised wagering will bring in tax earnings for the exchequer that could total up to $2bn a year.

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

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

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

And it would help restrict match repairing in cricket and other sports betting, argue many, by helping make deals included in sports betting more transparent.
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"If you work alongside sports betting business, you will have an extremely reliable approach of marking out match fixing," says George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering site, India Bet.

But numerous also think, that the taxes imposed on the bettor and the bookie will need to be affordable to make it attractive enough for them to gamble legally.

However, there are constraints.

"Definitely there will be illegal wagering due to the fact that (some) people would not want to leave an audit trail by entering the white market," says Mr Oborne.

He adds that individuals who utilize 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 brand-new law, and politically this will be a tough idea to offer.

"Despite the fact that many individuals are associated with some sort of gambling - it's still a controversial issue for lots of," states our unnamed punter.

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

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

Yet with the idea having actually been backed by a main panel for the very first time, at least an argument has actually fired up around a subject - which previously was thought about a taboo.
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