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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 runs to win against Australia.

In his two-bedroom home situated in main Mumbai, a middle-aged man is watching the game, nervously. He's resting on the edge of his grey colour sofa with his cellphone glued to his right hand.

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

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

"I believe India is winning, make the change," he tells his bookie on the phone.

And a couple of minutes later his forecast becomes a reality, as India wins the match in a nail-biting surface.

"I have made $200 today," he says 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 unlawful in India.

Aside from horse racing, sports betting of any kind is not permitted in India. Despite that, illegal sports betting syndicates thrive in the country.

'Black money'
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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 gambling money is directed towards cricket.

With no legal opportunity, punters position bets utilizing their phones by making calls to bookmakers. Gamblers can bank on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest individual run scorer.

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

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

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

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

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

Calls for legalisation

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

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established to suggest changes in the functioning of India's cricket regulative body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), after the 2013 Indian Premier League wagering scandal came to light.

Two franchises have actually been banned for 2 years after some players and team officials were found guilty of repairing parts of the match at the behest of bookies.

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

Even bettors feel that legalising sports betting is a move in the ideal instructions.

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

It would likewise open a substantial service chance for licensed bookies and global 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 deals involved in sports betting more transparent.

"If you work alongside wagering business, you will have an extremely reliable method of marking out match repairing," says George Oborne, who runs a website, India Bet.

But many likewise believe, 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 since (some) people would not want to leave an audit trail by going into the white market," states Mr Oborne.

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

Approval question

For sports betting gambling to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be required to produce a brand-new law, and politically this will be a tough idea to sell.
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"Even though lots of people are involved in some sort of gaming - it's still a questionable problem for numerous," says our unnamed punter.
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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.

"The process is so long and challenging that it will take years," says Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this coming true anytime quickly."

Yet with the idea having been backed by an official panel for the very first time, a minimum of a dispute has fired up around a topic - which previously was thought about a taboo.