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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting wagering 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 needing 17 runs to win against Australia.

In his two-bedroom house situated in main Mumbai, a middle-aged man is watching the video game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour couch with his smart phone glued to his right hand.

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

Five minutes previously his cash was on Australia, now as the Indian batsman gets prepared to deal with the last over he's changed his mind.

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

And a few minutes later on his prediction becomes a reality, 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 three decades he's been banking on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is illegal in India.

Other than horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not permitted in India. Despite that, unlawful 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 gambling money is directed towards cricket.

With no legal opportunity, punters position 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.

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

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

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

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

But regardless of this, it is "offline sports betting", done through telephone call which dominate the market.

Calls for legalisation
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The clamour to legalise wagering in cricket has actually grown after a panel appointed by India's Supreme Court proposed the concept, saying it would help clamp down on corruption in the country's preferred sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established to recommend 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 emerged.

Two franchises have actually been banned for 2 years after some gamers and team authorities were found guilty of fixing parts of the match at the behest of bookies.
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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 wagering is a move in the right instructions.
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"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 big service chance for certified bookmakers and worldwide online wagering companies to establish operations in India.

And it would assist restrict match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue many, by helping make deals associated with gambling more transparent.

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

But many likewise believe, that the taxes levied on the bettor and the bookmaker will have to be reasonable to make it attractive enough for them to gamble legally.

However, there are constraints.

"Definitely there will be illegal wagering since (some) individuals would not wish to leave an audit trail by entering the white market," states Mr Oborne.

He includes that people who use unaccounted cash to put huge 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 difficult concept to offer.

"Even though many individuals are associated with some sort of gaming - it's still a questionable issue for many," states our unnamed punter.

And given that India has a - each state will have to also pass a different law to legalise sports betting gambling in their territory.
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"The process is so long and difficult 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 endorsed by an official panel for the very first time, at least an argument has ignited around a subject - which till now was considered a taboo.