A move to legalise betting on sport is being considered by the Indian government following the spot‑fixing row that has blown up around the Pakistan cricket team during its tour of England.
With illegal bookmakers in India believed to be involved in the vast majority of spot-fixing incidents, such a move would be an important step toward cleaning up cricket.
A sports ministry source in India has said that the government is planning to re-examine the contentious issue following a recommendation from a trial court in New Delhi. "The aim is to ascertain whether legalised betting can exist in India without the stigma that is attached to it now," the source said.
"So we are looking at the pros and cons with great care. The UK model seems rather comprehensive. We are keen on 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 legalise betting."
Last week a Delhi court suggested that the police had failed to check the illegal betting menace and that unaccounted money generated through it was being used to fund terror and drug trafficking. The court observed that making betting legal would also generate revenue, as with the lottery business.
