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Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports betting in India

Published

5 February 2016

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By Sameer Hashmi

Mumbai Business reporter

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 man is watching the game, nervously. He's sitting on the edge of his grey colour sofa with his smart phone glued to his right-hand man.

He has made more than 10 contact the last thirty minutes - not to discuss the match but to keep modifying his bet.

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

"I believe India is winning, make the change," he tells his bookmaker on the phone.

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

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

For more than 3 decades he's been wagering on cricket matches. We can't reveal his name as what he's doing is prohibited in India.

Besides horse racing, sports betting of any kind is not permitted in India. Despite that, illegal sports betting distributes flourish in the country.

'Black money'

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 sports betting money is directed towards cricket.

With no legal opportunity, punters place bets using their phones by making calls to bookies. Gamblers can bank on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest private run scorer.

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

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

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

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

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

Require legalisation

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

The Justice RM Lodha Commission was established 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 been banned for two years after some gamers and group officials were found guilty of fixing parts of the match at the request of bookies.

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

Even gamblers feel that legalising sports betting wagering is a move in the best direction.

"I don't mind paying some money out my earnings, as long as I can gamble openly," says our cricket gambler.

It would also open a big business opportunity for certified bookies and international online sports betting companies to set up operations in India.

And it would help restrict match fixing in cricket and other sports betting, argue many, by assisting make deals included in sports betting more transparent.

"If you work alongside wagering business, you will have a really efficient 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 affordable to make it attractive enough for them to gamble lawfully.

However, there are constraints.

"Definitely there will be unlawful wagering because (some) people would not wish to leave an audit trail by going into the white market," states Mr Oborne.

He adds that people who use unaccounted cash to position big bets will never ever bet legally.

Approval concern

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

"Although lots of people are included in some sort of gambling - it's still a controversial issue for numerous," states 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 process is so long and difficult that it will take years," states Mr Ranina."That's why, we are cynical about this ending up being a reality anytime quickly."

Yet with the idea having actually been backed by an official panel for the very first time, at least a debate has actually fired up around a subject - which until now was thought about a taboo.