Sameer Kochhar wants betting legalised

MUMBAI: Sameer Kochhar, TV anchor turned actor and host for IPL tournaments, says betting in cricket matches should be legalised.

Sameer, who plays a cop in "Jannat", Mahesh Bhatt's film on match fixing, said there is nothing wrong in betting if it does not lead to match fixing.

"Betting is prevalent in many games and there is nothing wrong with it. People bet in casinos and many other places.

"In India, people have a tendency to do what is forbidden by law. So, if betting is legalised it would be done in a more systematic way with less malpractice. But if betting leads to match fixing then I'm totally against it," Sameer said.

He believes IPL is an excellent platform for young cricketers to display their talent.

"Now a boy can go and tell his parents that he wants to become a cricketer and his parents would not object because they know that if their child cannot make it to the international level, he can at least play the domestic league," Sameer said.