Just days after a New Dehli court suggested that the government consider fully legalizing betting on sports in India, relatively huge steps have further been taken – at least in the media – to change prevailing Indian gambling laws.
U.K.-based newspaper the Guardian as well as the Times of India reported on the weekend that the Indian sports ministry confirmed reports that, yes, the government would be examining the possibility, particularly with the latest “no ball” incident involving two to three bribed Pakistani players in a week-long test match with England.
In fact, the Indian government appears to have found a good model for any redoing of the country’s gambling laws: “[The U.K.’s Gambling Act of 2005] seems rather comprehensive,” the source in the sports ministry told the Times of India. “We are keen on [creating] the 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.”
Estimates place the amount of gambling on cricket in the country at over £100 million *per Indian Premier League match*, and the maximum punishment for illegal online gambling in India is Rs 250 (about $5.38) or 90 days of incarceration.
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