Making arrests in India on a daily basis looks good on paper, but in reality, is it really putting a stop on betting activities in the country? With the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) coming up, it’s expected that there will be a rise in the IPL betting activities making this the perfect opportunity for the government to finally take stock of the thriving industry and how an effective regulation governing online betting opens opportunities for the country.
Yet another gang arrested over online betting
In Telangana’s Shamshabad town, law enforcement authorities recently announced the arrest of a gang accused of conducting online cricket betting under the names of Cricket Maza, Cricket Buzz, and Liveline Guru, among others. The main suspect, who goes by the name of Vijay, was taken into custody and pleaded guilty while three of his alleged cohorts were on the run, police said.
Details were scarce in the local reports, but it noted that the suspects “have been extorting money from innocents for some time now.”
The arrest is a clear example of how an effective regulation can help people, especially sports betting fans who will find ways to bet on their favorite sporting events. Take cricket as an example—the sport draws in an estimated 93 percent of all sports viewers in the county. Combine that with India’s deep-seated love for gambling, and we see “a cultural cash cow.”
Despite calls from industry stakeholders, law enforcement authorities and the government itself fail to realize that Indians love to gambling and they are already going the digital route for their favorite activity. An ENV Media analysis notes that licensed online betting operators are the only viable alternative to underground sportsbooks, especially in light of the arrests and alleged extortion activities.
Regulation can streamline complex sports and betting relationship
Indians love to gamble—that’s a fact. Yet, the thriving online betting industry continues to face stigma as a promoter of vices, a narrative that state governments are using in their bid to issue a blanket ban on the industry—even if they are violating the Constitution.
By refusing to regulate the industry, despite multiple calls not just from industry stakeholder but veteran lawmakers too, the government is failing to realize that they are not fully utilizing the opportunities brought in by the industry. Unlike the underground bookies, established online betting platforms operate under either offshore gambling licenses or locally regulated permits from jurisdictions with strict licensing procedures that put emphasis on consumer protection tailored to territorial and cultural specifics, which means these licensed online betting sites are mandated to provide safe and secure services to Indian players.
Now, couple that with a modern regulatory framework for online gaming—one that allows the market to keep up with the rapidly changing technologies—and India will find its winning formula for an effective oversight of the sector that will also give regulators flexibility to upgrade regulatory measures for the benefit of the players, the operators, and the government.
As the ENV Media analysts puts it, “In a nation with widespread illegal betting and gambling (reportedly worth well over $100bn annually), criminal activity has had the chance to flourish and continues to engage public resources and law-enforcement efforts. Emerging markets (India in particular but not only) will benefit from creating their own Central regulatory framework, a Gambling oversight body, and a Consumer Data protection regulation.”
