(Indian) Govt to legalize gambling in sports?

[Spring Onion]

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BANGALORE: The Union government is seriously looking into the possibility of legalizing sports gambling. It is examining gambling regulations in other countries, particularly the UK and the US, in a clear response to the growing clamour for betting to be legalized.

The sports ministry believes that cricket has such a cult following it should be legal for fans to bet on everything concerning the game. The government is also seen to be driven by the prospect of huge revenue earnings from bets placed and the taxes levied. The end result could be more money for sports development.

The ministry is studying Britain's Gambling Act 2005, which updated the country's laws on gambling and introduced checks and balances to protect children. The accent is on understanding the British act's efficacy and ramifications once adapted to Indian conditions.

Ministry sources told TOI, "The aim is to ascertain whether legalized betting can exist in India without the stigma that is attached to it now. So, we are looking at the pros and cons with great care. The UK model seems rather comprehensive." Sources said the process is at a nascent stage and will have to pass several tests before it is implemented.

Ministry sources told TOI that the process would, however, take time as it would have to pass from bureaucratic level to the Cabinet before it implementation by the home ministry.

The Gambling Commission regulates Britain's thriving industry and deals with all forms of gambling including bingo, casinos, the lottery, scratch cards and sports. This last means betting on horse and greyhound racing. All of this was made possible by the 2005 Act, an all-encompassing version of the Betting and Gaming Act of 1960 and the 1968 Gaming Act.

The ministry will also examine horse racing here in India to check if the model needs to be tweaked.

Sources said, "We are keen on legislation as soon as possible. At the same time, it cannot be hurried through because we need to convince all about the need to legalize betting". The biggest hurdle would be the fact that gambling is taboo in India. Another problem is the rationale that legalizing betting will not root out illegal betting syndicates or match-fixing.

"But nowhere in the world do governments claim that legalized betting spells an end to match-fixing, " the sources argued. "They run on parallel tracks. The latest incident of spot-fixing has happened in England. We are only looking at regulating the industry."

Read more: Govt game to legalize gambling in sports? - Others - More Sports - Sports - The Times of India Govt game to legalize gambling in sports? - Others - More Sports - Sports - The Times of India

[PAKFA]

If it can be done with some regulation , I don't see any problem with this.

[LaBong]

It should have done long ago, well share market is one sort of gambling with position being allowed.

[jha]

of course no problem with legalizing betting..Even i could have filed the tax return for 23,000 rupees i won in IPL...

[Coltsfan]

Problem here is not the gambling part..

It is the match-fixing that is the issue........ if the bookies can influence the players and determine the outcome of the match, it is no longer betting, it is a scam at that point.

So regulation of betting or not, it will not solve any problem.

[Speaker]

Betting is the same as speculation in the stock market. Match fixing is like deceptive fraud or undisclosed insider trading. This knowledge will prevent the raised eyebrows.

[fateh71]

Problem here is not the gambling part..

It is the match-fixing that is the issue........ if the bookies can influence the players and determine the outcome of the match, it is no longer betting, it is a scam at that point.

So regulation of betting or not, it will not solve any problem.

This has nothing to do with stopping match fixing, but the need to legalise betting has its own advantages including tax revenue for the govt etc. On second thought, a transparent betting market will be useful in finding out any irregular bets that may hint at match fixing (like insider trading can be investigated in case of trades that arouse suspicion, unless legal one will not have that data).

[scrumpy]

Problem here is not the gambling part..

It is the match-fixing that is the issue........ if the bookies can influence the players and determine the outcome of the match, it is no longer betting, it is a scam at that point.

So regulation of betting or not, it will not solve any problem.

Betting is legal in the UK. Since it is, any attempt to fix a particular match is treated as an attempt to defraud the bookmakers and the perpetrators can be prosecuted.

By legalising betting, I guess the government wants to be able to introduce laws similar to those in the UK to prosecute match fixers.

[JanjaWeed]

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it would be a wise move if they do it.. not just this will help in redusing the illegal betting, will also generate tax revenue.