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The Indian government is considering whether to legalise the county’s multi-million dollar black market in gambling in order to tackle corruption in cricket, a leading newspaper reported on Sunday.
“The aim is to ascertain whether legalised betting can exist in India without the stigma attached to it now. So we are looking at the pros and cons with great care,” a sport ministry official told The Times of India.
India is seen by many in the gambling industry as the epicentre of underground illegal betting, with punters and bookmakers alike involved in a sprawling network of shady wagers. Three Pakistani players currently touring England were recently charged by the International Cricket Council after press allegations of spot-fixing (betting on individual balls or short passages of play).
Gambling in India is strictly illegal except at horse races and a few casinos, although at a local level lottery gaming is becoming increasingly permitted.
Legalising sports gambling in India would likely bring in massive tax revenues for the government.
Source: www.betasia.com
