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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 press reporter

It is the last over of the cricket match, with India requiring 17 runs to win against Australia.

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

He has made more than 10 calls in the last 30 minutes - not to discuss the match however to keep revising his bet.

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

"I believe India is winning, make the modification," 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 finish.

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

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

Other than horse racing, sports betting of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, illegal sports betting distributes grow in the country.

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

With no legal avenue, punters position bets using their phones by making calls to bookies. Gamblers can bank on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest 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 type of gaming in India, however unlike in the US which has a law prohibiting internet sports betting, there is absolutely nothing similar here.

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

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

But despite this, it is "offline gaming", done through telephone call which control the market.

Calls for legalisation

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

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up to suggest modifications 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 team authorities were found guilty of repairing parts of the match at the behest of bookmakers.

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

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

"I do not mind paying some money out my revenues, as long as I can gamble openly," says our cricket gambler.

It would also open a substantial organization chance for certified bookmakers and global online wagering business to set up operations in India.

And it would assist limit match repairing in cricket and other sports betting, argue numerous, by assisting make deals associated with sports betting more transparent.

"If you work alongside wagering business, you will have a very efficient technique of marking out match fixing," says George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering website, India Bet.

But numerous likewise think, that the taxes imposed on the bettor and the bookmaker will need to be reasonable to make it appealing enough for them to gamble legally.

However, there are restrictions.

"Definitely there will be unlawful wagering because (some) individuals wouldn't wish to leave an audit trail by getting in the white market," says Mr Oborne.

He includes that people who utilize unaccounted money to place big bets will never ever gamble legally.

Approval question

For sports betting gambling to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be required to create a new law, and politically this will be a tough concept to sell.

"Even though many people are included in some sort of sports betting - it's still a controversial problem for many," says our unnamed punter.

And given that India has a federal structural - each state will have to also pass a separate law to legalise sports betting in their area.
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"The procedure is so long and challenging that it will take years," states Mr Ranina."That's why, we are negative about this becoming a truth anytime soon."

Yet with the concept having been endorsed by an official panel for the first time, a minimum of a dispute has ignited around a subject - which previously was thought about a taboo.
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