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 go to win versus Australia.

In his two-bedroom home situated in main Mumbai, a middle-aged guy is watching the game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour couch with his smart phone glued to his right-hand man.
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He has made more than 10 calls in the last 30 minutes - not to talk about the match however 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 think India is winning, make the change," he informs his on the phone.

And a couple of minutes later on his prediction comes to life, 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 decades he's been banking on cricket matches. We can't expose his name as what he's doing is prohibited in India.

Other than horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not permitted in India. Despite that, unlawful wagering syndicates thrive in the nation.

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

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

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

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

And offshore wagering companies are utilizing this loophole to tempt Indians. Despite the fact that there are no online wagering operators based out of India, a lot individuals have registered accounts with overseas firms.

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

But in spite of this, it is "offline gaming", done through phone calls which dominate the marketplace.

Require legalisation
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The clamour to legalise sports betting in cricket has actually grown after a panel selected by India's Supreme Court proposed the concept, stating it would assist secure down on corruption in the nation's preferred sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established to recommend 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 emerged.

Two franchises have been banned for two years after some gamers and team officials were condemned of repairing parts of the match at the request of bookies.

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

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

"I do not mind paying some cash out my revenues, as long as I can bet publicly," says our cricket gambler.

It would also open a big company chance for certified bookies and worldwide online wagering companies to establish operations in India.

And it would assist restrict match repairing in cricket and other sports betting, argue many, by helping make transactions involved in sports betting more transparent.

"If you work alongside sports betting companies, you will have an extremely reliable method of stamping out match repairing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock sports betting website, India Bet.

But lots of also think, that the taxes imposed on the bettor and the bookie will have to be sensible to make it appealing enough for them to gamble lawfully.

However, there are limitations.

"Definitely there will be unlawful sports betting since (some) people wouldn't wish to leave an audit path by entering the white market," says Mr Oborne.

He adds that people who utilize unaccounted cash to put big bets will never gamble legally.

Approval 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 tough idea to sell.

"Even though lots of people are included in some sort of gambling - it's still a questionable concern for numerous," says our unnamed punter.

And provided that India has a federal structural - each state will need to likewise pass a different law to legalise sports betting gambling in their territory.

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

Yet with the idea having been backed by a main panel for the very first time, at least a dispute has sparked around a topic - which till now was thought about a taboo.