Should betting be legalised, law panel asks public

In what could reignite the debate over legalising sports betting and gambling in the country, the Law Commission of India has invited "views and suggestions" from the public and all stakeholders on the issue.

Among the questions that the Law Commission has sought answers are whether legalising betting and gambling will help in curbing illegal activities and if licensing such activities will help the government "earn substantial revenue and generate employment".

It has also raised a moral question: How far will legalising betting and gambling be morally correct in the Indian circumstances?

The Law Commission also wants to know if foreign "betting and gambling companies" should be allowed to have a foothold in the country in case both are made legal.

All these questions formed part of an appeal that was issued by the Commission chairman Justice BS Chauhan (retd) on Tuesday. The appeal indicated that the Commission is already working towards a probable report that discusses the possibility of legalising betting in sports. The appeal also notes that it would be a futile exercise to take a call on betting without looking at gambling simultaneously.

The debate to legalise gambling (which includes betting) has been an subject matter of debate for long, and has since gained traction since the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. In January 2016, the Justice RL Lodha Committee had batted for legalising betting with a variety of safeguards.

As per estimates by various government and non-governmental agencies, a high-profile cricket match like India versus Pakistan attracts illegal betting to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore. However, if one considers betting across the globe, the figures exponentially rise to more than Rs 8,000 crore.

Even the appeal put out on Tuesday by the Law Commission notes this, pointing to media reports which say that gambling, though illegal, is widespread and "practiced across the country clandestinely".

In January 2016, the Justice RL Lodha Committee had batted for legalising betting with a variety of safeguards.

Former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal (retired), who headed the probe in the spot-fixing scandal, also supports the move to legalise betting.