IPL - Bet its More than just cricket

As I was watching news regarding the IPL controversy, something stuck my mind. The IPL has turned murkier, now with a new avatar, as a combo of the top 3 entertainment industries of the nation, Cricket + Bollywood + Politics!

The hysteria has never died right from the day one the IPL has started; it has seen the either extremes of madness. The Pakistan players’ inclusion, Franchise selection process, the bomb blasts, the racist comments, the betting drama, match fixing allegations, the taxation episode, the underworld connection, everything made it even more "Indian viewer oriented".

Mr. Modi is a man of steel and he donned the play of resurrection every time he is punched down hard with some allegations. In light of all the controversies surrounding IPL, I think one brave step to avoid a little feud, from this war would be legalizing Betting in India. Gambling is socially acceptable in India, but not legally, it is this dichotomy which is at the root of the periodic bouts of headlines about betting and match fixing that comes out to haunt us every now and then. The IPL format seems to be tailor made for betting, and it would have benefited for good, if betting was made legal. Declaring something illegal does not mean we can wish it away, the bets continue to be laid, under the table, instead of, on the table. So proper legalization would also circumscribe criminalization of Indian sports, illegal rackets and money laundering.

The IPL controversy should serve as a wakeup call to the Government on the need to make betting legitimate. I feel that the bans are never a solution to a problem; they drive the activity in the dark, outside the formal system which makes it un regulatory. (Though the government draws a thin line, on where one can bet- i.e. games involving skill and games of chance, the demarcation is often ignored). Betting is allowed in horse racing as it is a game of skill and not a game of chance. But there is a lot, who argue why lottery is legal in certain parts, and they are right, for, the discriminating line is crossed by the government itself.

Detractors argue that unfettered gambling could lead the public to social and financial ruin. This is noble argument but erroneous because gambling is ubiquitous. Everyone benefits from transparency and disclosure of information, poor included. There is a patronizing assumption that poor does not know what is good for them, even though they gamble all the time when they elect political reps. we never think of counter factual. But is the present system of “Ban on betting" good for the poor, assuming they ought to be controlled against their own vices? Not really, as they resort to unregulated bootlegging type gambling. We may not get transparency if it is legalized but we will get translucency and it is done in many countries like UK, Australia already. The "regulated Betting environment" which even brings huge taxes to the government. By the way I owe a treat to few of my mates, for DC lost in the Semi finals!