Gambling bill introduced in India’s Parliament
Seeks to end booming unregulated gambling on the vast sub-Continent
An Indian politician recently introduced a private member’s bill calling for the legalization of online gambling and sports betting. Although this particular bill is unlikely to be passed into law, experts in India say it has fired up debate over the issue. In their regional weekly outlook, Rosalind Wade and Luis Pereira – Managing Directors at Asia Gaming Brief – report this may be a significant step towards opening up what has the potential to be one of the world’s largest markets.
The private member’s bill at the Indian parliament introduced by politician Shashi Tharoor, who belongs to the main Indian National Congress opposition party, aims to potentially unlock one of the world’s largest sports betting markets. The bill is well timed and could be an important step towards legalising or regulating betting and gambling activities in India.
Based on the recommendations of the Justice Chauhan Commission report last year, the bill proposes the establishment of an overarching body to regulate online gaming and sports betting in India. Amongst several major regulating items, the bill criminalises sports fraud, including match-fixing and aims to put a check on the flourishing online gaming market in India, which is operating mostly in a legal grey zone.
Most important, however, Tharoor’s bill seeks to bring an end to unregulated gambling on the vast Indian sub-Continent, where the market is booming even without a proper regulatory framework.
