Online gamblers rejoice, for your pastime might just become legal now. The sports ministry has initiated the process to develop a legislation that will make online betting legal. However, according to reports, the legislation might take two years to materialise.
The ministry has sought the help of UK counterparts in drafting the bill, where betting is legal.
The UK has one of the most effective gambling laws. We hope to understand their system and see if it is possible to introduce it in IndiaA ministry official to The Indian Express
This move is expected to increase funding for sports at both central and state level across the country. Though the social ramifications of making gambling legal are aplenty, the ministry expects that the economic benefits it could provide will outweigh the minuses.
Injeti Srinivas, the Sports Secretary, is currently in UK, and is expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on online betting. At present only horse-betting is legal in India, and is placed under the 28 percent tax slab under the GST.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)