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

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

He has actually made more than 10 contact the last 30 minutes - not to go over the match however to keep modifying his bet.

Five minutes previously his money was on Australia, today as the Indian batsman prepares to face the last over he's changed his mind.

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

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

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

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

'Black cash'

According to the Doha-based International Centre for sports betting Security, India's unlawful sports betting market is worth some $150bn a year. And much of that gambling money is directed towards cricket.
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Without any legal avenue, punters position bets using their phones by making calls to bookies. Gamblers can bet on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the highest individual run scorer.

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

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

And overseas wagering business are utilizing this loophole to tempt Indians. Even though there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot individuals have registered accounts with offshore companies.

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

But despite this, it is "offline gambling", done through call which dominate the marketplace.
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Require legalisation

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

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up to recommend modifications in the functioning 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 been prohibited for two years after some gamers and group officials were condemned of fixing parts of the match at the request of bookies.

The panel also argues that legalised wagering will generate tax revenues for the exchequer that could amount to $2bn a year.

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

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

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

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

"If you work alongside sports betting companies, you will have an extremely reliable method of stamping out match repairing," says George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering website, India Bet.

But lots of also believe, that the taxes imposed on the bettor and the bookie will need to be reasonable to make it appealing enough for them to bet lawfully.

However, there are limitations.

"Definitely there will be prohibited sports betting since (some) individuals wouldn't wish to leave an audit path by entering the white market," states Mr Oborne.

He adds that individuals who utilize unaccounted cash to position big bets will never bet lawfully.

Approval question

For sports betting gambling to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be needed to produce a brand-new law, and politically this will be a hard idea to sell.

"Even though lots of people are associated with some sort of sports betting - it's still a controversial concern for numerous," says our unnamed punter.

And considered that India has a federal structural - each state will have to likewise pass a separate law to legalise sports betting in their area.
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"The procedure is so long and tricky that it will take years," says Mr Ranina."That's why, we are negative about this ending up being a reality anytime soon."

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