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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 home located in central Mumbai, a middle-aged guy is viewing the video game, nervously. He's resting on the edge of his grey colour couch with his smart phone glued to his right-hand man.

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

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

"I believe India is winning, make the modification," he informs 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 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 illegal in India.

Other than horse racing, sports betting wagering of any kind is not allowed in India. Despite that, illegal wagering distributes prosper in the nation.

'Black money'

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.

With no legal avenue, punters place bets utilizing their phones by making calls to bookmakers. Gamblers can wager on anything associated to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest specific run scorer.

The majority of these transactions involve so-called "black cash", which is money not stated to the taxman.

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

And offshore wagering business are utilizing this loophole to draw Indians. Although there are no online sports betting operators based out of India, a lot individuals have actually signed up accounts with offshore firms.

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

But in spite of this, it is "offline gaming", done through call which dominate the market.

Calls for 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 changes 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.

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

The panel likewise argues that legalised wagering 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 right direction.

"I do not mind paying some cash out my profits, as long as I can bet openly," says our cricket bettor.

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

And it would help restrict match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue numerous, by helping make transactions associated with gambling more transparent.

"If you work together with wagering business, you will have an extremely effective approach of stamping out match fixing," states George Oborne, who runs a mock wagering site, India Bet.

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

However, there are restrictions.

"Definitely there will be illegal wagering because (some) people wouldn't wish to leave an audit path by going into the white market," says Mr Oborne.

He includes that people who utilize unaccounted cash to put big bets will never ever gamble legally.

Approval question

For sports betting gambling to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be required to develop a new law, and politically this will be a tough idea to offer.
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"Despite the fact that many individuals are associated with some sort of sports betting - it's still a controversial issue for many," states our unnamed punter.

And given that India has a federal structural - each state will have to likewise pass a separate law to legalise sports betting gambling in their area.
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"The procedure is so long and challenging that it will take years," states Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this coming true anytime soon."

Yet with the concept having actually been backed by an official panel for the very first time, at least a dispute has actually sparked around a topic - which previously was thought about a taboo.
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