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

In his two-bedroom home located in main Mumbai, a middle-aged guy is seeing the video game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour couch with his cellphone glued to his ideal hand.

He has made more than 10 hire the last thirty minutes - not to go over the match however to keep modifying his bet.
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Five minutes earlier his cash was on Australia, however now as the Indian batsman prepares yourself to face the last over he's altered his mind.

"I think India is winning, make the change," he informs his bookmaker on the phone.

And a few minutes later on his forecast comes true, as India wins the match in a nail-biting surface.

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

For more than three decades he's been wagering on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is unlawful in India.

Other than horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not enabled in India. Despite that, unlawful sports betting syndicates prosper in the country.

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

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

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

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

And offshore wagering business are utilizing this loophole to lure Indians. Even though there are no online wagering operators based out of India, a lot people have actually registered accounts with overseas firms.
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"Legally you can escape [with this], as the law is unclear for online gambling," states Mumbai- based legal representative HP Ranina.

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

Require legalisation

The clamour to legalise wagering in cricket has grown after a panel designated by India's Supreme Court proposed the concept, saying it would help secure down on corruption in the country's favourite sport.

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up to recommend 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.
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Two franchises have been banned for 2 years after some gamers and group authorities were condemned of repairing parts of the match at the request of bookmakers.

The panel also argues that legalised sports betting will generate tax incomes for the exchequer that might amount to $2bn a year.

Even bettors feel that legalising sports betting is a relocation in the best direction.

"I don't mind paying some money out my profits, as long as I can bet openly," states our cricket gambler.

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

And it would assist limit match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue many, by assisting make transactions included in gambling more transparent.

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

But lots of likewise believe, that the taxes levied on the gambler and the bookmaker will need to be affordable to make it attractive enough for them to bet legally.

However, there are limitations.

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

He includes that individuals who use unaccounted money to position big bets will never gamble lawfully.

Approval concern

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

"Even though lots of people are associated with some sort of gaming - it's still a questionable concern for numerous," says 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 in their area.

"The procedure 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 a main panel for the very first time, at least a debate has actually ignited around a topic - which previously was thought about a taboo.