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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting wagering 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 runs to win against Australia.

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

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

Five minutes earlier his money was on Australia, today as the Indian batsman prepares to deal with the last over he's changed his mind.
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"I believe India is winning, make the change," he informs his bookmaker 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 says with a childish glee.

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

Besides horse racing, sports betting of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, prohibited sports betting syndicates prosper in the country.
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'Black money'

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 sports betting money is directed towards cricket.

Without any legal opportunity, punters place bets using their phones by making calls to bookies. Gamblers can bank on anything associated to the cricket match, from who is winning to the highest individual run scorer.

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

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

And offshore wagering business are using this loophole to draw Indians. Although there are no online wagering operators based out of India, a lot individuals have registered accounts with offshore companies.

"Legally you can get away [with this], as the law is ambiguous for online gaming," states Mumbai- based attorney HP Ranina.

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

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 assist secure down on corruption in the country's favourite sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established to recommend 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 sports betting scandal came to light.

Two franchises have actually been banned for two years after some players and group officials were condemned of fixing parts of the match at the wish of bookmakers.

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

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

"I do not mind paying some cash out my revenues, as long as I can bet openly," says our cricket gambler.
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It would also open a substantial service chance for licensed bookmakers and worldwide online wagering companies to establish operations in India.

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

"If you work together with wagering business, you will have an extremely reliable method of stamping out match repairing," says George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering site, India Bet.

But lots of likewise believe, that the taxes levied on the bettor and the bookie will have to be affordable to make it attractive enough for them to bet legally.

However, there are constraints.

"Definitely there will be prohibited sports betting due to the fact that (some) individuals wouldn't wish to leave an audit path by getting in the white market," says Mr Oborne.

He adds that individuals who use unaccounted cash to place big bets will never ever bet lawfully.

Approval question

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

"Despite the fact that many individuals are associated with some sort of gaming - it's still a controversial problem for lots of," states 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 area.

"The process is so long and difficult that it will take years," says Mr Ranina."That's why, we are negative 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 an argument has ignited around a topic - which previously was thought about a taboo.