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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting in India

5 February 2016

By Sameer Hashmi
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Mumbai Business press reporter

It is the last over of the cricket match, with India requiring 17 go to win versus Australia.
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In his two-bedroom home situated in main Mumbai, a middle-aged guy is enjoying the game, nervously. He's resting on the edge of his grey colour sofa with his smart phone glued to his best hand.

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

Five minutes previously his money was on Australia, now as the Indian batsman prepares yourself to face the last over he's altered his mind.
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"I think India is winning, make the change," he informs his bookie on the phone.

And a few minutes later on his prediction comes true, 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 3 years 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 of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, unlawful wagering syndicates grow in the country.

'Black money'

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

The majority of these deals include so-called "black cash", which is money not declared to the taxman.
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The 1867 Act bars any kind of gambling in India, however unlike in the US which has a law restricting internet gambling, there is nothing comparable here.

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

"Legally you can get away [with this], as the law is uncertain for online gambling," says Mumbai- based legal representative HP Ranina.

But despite this, it is "offline gambling", done through telephone call which control the marketplace.

Calls for legalisation

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

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up 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 came to light.

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

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

Even gamblers feel that legalising sports betting is a relocation in the right direction.
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"I do not mind paying some money out my revenues, as long as I can gamble openly," states our cricket gambler.

It would likewise open a big organization opportunity for certified bookmakers and international online wagering business to establish operations in India.
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And it would assist restrict match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue many, by helping make deals included in sports betting more transparent.

"If you work together with wagering companies, you will have an extremely reliable method of marking out match repairing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering website, India Bet.

But numerous also believe, that the taxes levied on the gambler and the bookie will have to be affordable to make it attractive enough for them to bet legally.

However, there are restrictions.

"Definitely there will be prohibited sports betting due to the fact that (some) individuals would not desire to leave an audit path by getting in the white market," states Mr Oborne.

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

Approval concern

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

"Despite the fact that many individuals are included in some sort of gaming - it's still a questionable issue for lots of," says our unnamed punter.

And provided that India has a federal structural - each state will need to likewise pass a different law to legalise sports betting in their area.

"The process 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 quickly."

Yet with the idea having actually been backed by a main panel for the very first time, at least a dispute has actually ignited around a subject - which till now was thought about a taboo.