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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 needing 17 runs to win versus Australia.

In his two-bedroom house situated in main Mumbai, a middle-aged male is seeing the video game, . He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour couch with his mobile phone glued to his ideal hand.

He has actually made more than 10 contact the last thirty minutes - not to discuss the match however to keep modifying his bet.

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

"I believe India is winning, make the modification," he informs his bookie 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 states with a childish glee.

For more than 3 years he's been sports betting on cricket matches. We can't expose his name as what he's doing is prohibited in India.

Aside from horse racing, sports betting of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, prohibited wagering syndicates grow in the nation.

'Black cash'

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

With no legal avenue, punters place bets using their phones by making calls to bookies. Gamblers can wager on anything associated to the cricket match, from who is winning to the highest specific run scorer.

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

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

And offshore sports betting business are using this loophole to draw Indians. Despite the fact that there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot individuals have actually registered accounts with offshore companies.

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

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

Calls for legalisation

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

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up to recommend changes 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 emerged.

Two franchises have been banned for 2 years after some gamers and group authorities were condemned of fixing parts of the match at the request of bookies.

The panel likewise argues that legalised sports betting will bring in tax incomes for the exchequer that could total up to $2bn a year.

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

"I do not mind paying some cash out my earnings, as long as I can gamble openly," says our cricket bettor.

It would likewise open a big organization chance for certified bookies and global online sports betting business to establish operations in India.

And it would help restrict match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue numerous, by helping make transactions included in sports betting more transparent.

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

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

However, there are limitations.

"Definitely there will be illegal wagering since (some) individuals wouldn't desire to leave an audit path by entering the white market," states Mr Oborne.

He includes that individuals who use unaccounted cash to position big bets will never ever bet legally.

Approval concern

For sports betting to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be required to produce a brand-new law, and politically this will be a difficult concept to sell.

"Despite the fact that many individuals are associated with some sort of sports betting - it's still a questionable concern for numerous," states our unnamed punter.

And provided that India has a federal structural - each state will have to also pass a different law to legalise sports betting gambling in their area.

"The process is so long and tricky that it will take years," states Mr Ranina."That's why, we are negative about this becoming a reality anytime soon."

Yet with the idea having actually been backed by an official panel for the very first time, a minimum of an argument has ignited around a topic - which previously was considered a taboo.
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