Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting 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 against Australia.

In his two-bedroom home located in central Mumbai, a middle-aged guy is watching the video game, nervously. He's resting on the edge of his grey colour sofa with his mobile phone glued to his right hand.

He has made more than 10 calls in the last thirty minutes - not to discuss the match but to keep modifying his bet.

Five minutes previously his cash was on Australia, but now as the Indian batsman prepares yourself to face the last over he's altered his mind.
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"I think India is winning, make the modification," he informs his bookie on the phone.

And a couple of minutes later on his forecast comes to life, as India wins the match in a nail-biting finish.

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

For more than 3 years he's been sports betting on cricket matches. We can't reveal 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, illegal wagering distributes grow in the country.

'Black cash'

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

Without any legal avenue, punters position bets utilizing their phones by making calls to bookmakers. Gamblers can bank on anything associated to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest private run scorer.

The majority of these transactions include so-called "black cash", which is cash not declared to the taxman.
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The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any kind of gaming in India, however unlike in the US which has a law forbiding web gaming, there is absolutely nothing similar here.

And offshore sports betting companies are using this loophole to tempt Indians. Although there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot people have actually signed up accounts with offshore companies.

"Legally you can escape [with this], as the law is unclear for online gaming," says Mumbai- based attorney HP Ranina.

But regardless of this, it is "offline gaming", done through phone calls which dominate the market.

Calls for legalisation

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

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up to suggest 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 actually been banned for two 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 profits for the exchequer that could total up to $2bn a year.

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

"I don't mind paying some cash out my profits, as long as I can gamble openly," says our cricket bettor.

It would likewise open a big company chance for bookies and worldwide online wagering business to set up operations in India.

And it would assist restrict match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue numerous, by assisting make transactions associated with sports betting more transparent.
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"If you work along with wagering business, you will have a really reliable technique of marking out match repairing," says George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering website, India Bet.

But many likewise believe, 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 prohibited wagering since (some) people would not wish to leave an audit path by entering the white market," states Mr Oborne.

He includes that individuals who utilize unaccounted cash to place big bets will never ever gamble lawfully.

Approval question

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

"Even though many individuals are included in some sort of sports betting - it's still a questionable concern for numerous," says our unnamed punter.

And considered that India has a federal structural - each state will need to also pass a different law to legalise sports betting in their area.
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"The process is so long and challenging that it will take years," states Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this coming true anytime quickly."

Yet with the idea having been backed by a main panel for the very first time, at least a dispute has actually sparked around a subject - which previously was considered a taboo.
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