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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 reporter

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

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

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

Five minutes previously his cash was on Australia, today as the Indian batsman prepares yourself to deal with the last over he's changed his mind.
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"I believe India is winning, make the change," he informs his bookmaker on the phone.

And a couple of minutes later on his forecast becomes a reality, 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 years he's been banking on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is prohibited in India.

Besides horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, unlawful sports betting syndicates prosper in the country.
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'Black money'

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 gambling money is directed towards cricket.

With no legal avenue, punters put bets utilizing their phones by making calls to bookies. Gamblers can bank on anything associated to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest individual run scorer.

Most of these deals involve so-called "black cash", which is cash not stated to the taxman.

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

And offshore wagering companies are utilizing this loophole to entice Indians. Even though there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot people have signed up accounts with offshore companies.

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

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

Require legalisation

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

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established 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 wagering scandal emerged.

Two franchises have actually been prohibited for 2 years after some players and group officials were condemned of repairing parts of the match at the behest of bookies.

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

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

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

It would also open a huge service chance for certified bookmakers and global online wagering business to establish operations in India.

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

"If you work together with sports betting business, you will have a really efficient technique of marking out match fixing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering website, India Bet.

But many likewise believe, that the taxes levied on the gambler and the bookmaker will need to be sensible to make it attractive enough for them to bet lawfully.

However, there are restrictions.

"Definitely there will be prohibited wagering due to the fact that (some) people wouldn't wish to leave an audit trail by entering the white market," says Mr Oborne.

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

Approval concern

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

"Although numerous people are associated with some sort of gaming - it's still a questionable issue for many," states 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 gambling in their territory.

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

Yet with the concept having actually been endorsed by an official panel for the very first time, at least a dispute has ignited around a topic - which until now was thought about a taboo.
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