Check Betting in Cricket to Track Black Money: Special Investigation Team
The Special Investigation Team said betting in sports, which is illegal, creates a wide scope for black money generation.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: July 24, 2015 09:56 PM IST
Flagging involvement of unaccounted money in cricket betting, especially IPL, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money on Friday asked the government to put in place measures to control the menace. "It is apparent that illegal activity of cricket betting requires to be controlled by some provisions which are deterrent to all the concerned. Considering the fact that large amount of black money is generated and used in this sector, it is suggested that some appropriate legislative directions or rules or regulations are required to be put in place to curb the menace of such betting," said the SIT in its third report. (IPL Scam 2013: Sreesanth in Focus as Court Set to Frame Charges)
Citing a study, the panel headed by Justice M B Shah (retd) said betting in sports, which is illegal, creates a wide scope for black money generation. In India, only betting on horse racing, lotteries conducted by state governments and casinos in certain states are permissible. According to a 2012 FICCI and KPMG report, betting market in India is about Rs 3 lakh crore and if taxed at 20 per cent, the exchequer can earn revenue of Rs 12,000-Rs 19,000 crore a year. The SIT noted that the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been marred by betting and spot fixing scandals and involvement of huge amount of black money. (BCCI Officials to Sign No Conflict of Interest Undertaking)
"As per news reports, some of the players are paid more than the payment slabs prescribed by the BCCI, with certain amount paid through legitimate means and some in black. During the IPL 2013 season, in a spot-fixing scam, several cricketers were arrested for accepting money from bookies to throw away matches," it said. (CSK, RR Suspended for Two Seasons)