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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 go to win against Australia.
In his two-bedroom house situated in main Mumbai, a middle-aged male is viewing the game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour couch with his smart phone glued to his right-hand man.
He has actually made more than 10 employ the last 30 minutes - not to go over the match however to keep revising his bet.
Five minutes earlier his money was on Australia, but 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 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 surface.
"I have made $200 today," he states with a childish glee.
For more than three decades he's been sports betting on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is unlawful in India.
Aside from horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, illegal sports betting syndicates thrive in the country.
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'Black cash'
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 cash is directed towards cricket.
Without any legal opportunity, punters position bets utilizing their phones by making calls to bookmakers. Gamblers can bet on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest specific run scorer.
Most of these deals include so-called "black money", which is cash not declared to the taxman.
The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any kind of in India, but unlike in the US which has a law restricting internet gambling, there is nothing comparable here.
And offshore wagering companies are using this loophole to tempt Indians. Although there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot people have actually signed up accounts with offshore firms.
"Legally you can escape [with this], as the law is uncertain for online gaming," says Mumbai- based attorney HP Ranina.
But regardless of 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 selected by India's Supreme Court proposed the concept, saying it would help clamp down on corruption in the nation's preferred sport.
The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established 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 wagering scandal came to light.
Two franchises have actually been banned for 2 years after some players and team officials were found guilty of repairing parts of the match at the behest of bookies.
The panel also argues that legalised sports betting will generate tax earnings for the exchequer that could amount to $2bn a year.
Even bettors feel that legalising sports betting wagering is a relocation in the best direction.
"I don't mind paying some money out my profits, as long as I can gamble openly," says our cricket gambler.
It would also open a substantial business chance for certified bookmakers and global online wagering business to set up operations in India.
And it would assist limit match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue many, by assisting make deals involved in sports betting more transparent.
"If you work along with sports betting business, you will have a really effective technique of stamping out match fixing," says George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering site, India Bet.
But many also believe, that the taxes levied on the bettor and the bookie will need to be affordable to make it appealing enough for them to bet legally.
However, there are limitations.
"Definitely there will be illegal wagering due to the fact that (some) individuals wouldn't want to leave an audit path by entering the white market," says Mr Oborne.
He includes that people who use unaccounted money to place big bets will never ever gamble lawfully.
Approval concern
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 sell.
"Although lots of people are involved in some sort of gambling - it's still a questionable problem for lots of," says our unnamed punter.
And considered that India has a federal structural - each state will need to likewise pass a different law to legalise sports betting in their area.
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"The procedure is so long and tricky that it will take years," states Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this becoming a reality anytime soon."
Yet with the concept having been backed by an official panel for the very first time, at least an argument has fired up around a subject - which till now was thought about a taboo.
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For Sports Gambling to Be Legalised
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