Across India, the questions around legalising and regulating the sports betting industry have always been a matter of contention. Illegal betting in India is an ongoing, huge profit-making business, and legalising it can allow the government to reap the profits. But is it a gamble worth taking? It is evident from the push for legalising betting by several institutions that a sports betting industry can be a beneficial one to have. It can professionalise sports betting in terms of maximising its financial potential and providing hefty tax benefits for the government. Permitting audiences to bet will encourage a bigger sports viewership that can bring in more money for various stakeholders as well as prevent financial crimes. 10 Cric and Sportsbet.io, along with many lesser-known applications, are betting platforms that have been in the Indian market for a while now. But it is the Dream11 application that sparked the fantasy sports fandom in the country, especially during the Indian Premier League season. The IPL is already one of the world’s wealthiest sports leagues, with a market value of over $6 billion in 2019. Every year, cricket fans around the world participate in IPL online betting. The impact of the government appointing a body to regulate sports betting in India would be a beneficial one to crystallise the industry. Experts believe that advertisements around sports will rise, setting a precedent for future investment in other sports. What Are States Doing? Currently, Assam, Sikkim, Nagaland, Odisha, Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh are the states that have banned Dream11. Karnataka, on the other hand, has outlawed all sorts of internet gaming, including betting, wagering, and gambling in any form. Dream11 will no longer be available in Karnataka as a result of the state’s recent legislation regulating fantasy sports. Andhra Pradesh did not disclose a specific rationale for its decision in 2020, but there were allegations that the pay-to-play platform for online games had been scrutinised as a result of the latest addition to the Games Act. Dream 11 was included in this category, and users began to notice modifications in the app. In Tamil Nadu, the state has constantly changed its stance in terms of legislation governing internet gaming. Most recently, in 2021, the Gaming and Police Laws amendment in Tamil Nadu enacted a noteworthy regulation on online gaming, after which the state is said to have permitted Dream11 to operate without any restrictions. The future of sports betting in India seems unclear as of now, with certain states for and others against its legalisation. Regardless of what the states decide, the fad has caught on enough that it seems like one the people will take forward – either in the light or out of it.
10 Apr 2022
Somalika Chhabra
