G3-247 Report INDIA
Legal wagering on the tote is estimated to bring in around Rs2bn (US$45m) each year plus an equivalent amount staked with licensed bookmakers.
Taxes, in relation to on course betting, are currently set at 30 per cent on stakes which is high. This was increased from 20 per cent in 2010.
Today the Turf Authorities of India manage and host events through eight different racecourses including:
Bangalore Racecourse is operated by the Bangalore Turf Club which was founded in 1920. Horse racing in Bangalore began some 150 years previously but between wars it was difficult to access good racing horses. Today the track is very popular and has a capac- ity of 1,500 visitors. The track is a 1,950 metre oval with four curves.
Hyderabad Racecourse is run by the Hyderabad Race Club which was set up in 1968 by the Nizam’s. The club switched venues and ended up moving from Moula Ali racecourse to Malakpet and constructed in palace of Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Nizam VI. A grandstand was later added and it is the most modern in India. There are two different race tracks to cope with two seasons the monsoon and the dry season.
Royal Calcutta (Kolkata) Racecourse is operated by the Royal Calcutta Turf Club where the race track was first built in Kolkata in 1820. Races at first were held in Akra. In the early 1800s the Bengal Jockey Club took over and
Due to the problem with the
Indian banking system there are only a small number of
bookmakers who can properly service the market and these include Bet365, William Hill, Ladbrokes and Betfair
a few years later it was moved to the Miadan area which is in the centre of the city and where it sits today.
Mumbai (Mahalakshmi) Racecourse is operated by the Royal Western India Turf Club and is among the best in the world and was initially created from marshy lands known as the Mahalakshmi Flats. The Turf Club con- trols racing in Mumbai, Pune and New Delhi. The track was built in 1883 and spans 225 acres whilst the track is a 2,400m oval track. There are around 1600 horses in training in Mumbai. The Mumbai-Pune betting total- isator was set up in 1967.
Pune Racecourse was built in 1830 and is located in Pune Cantonment and was built on land that was con- trolled by the Indian Army. The total area is around 118 acres and it is also operated by the Royal Western India Turf Club which hosts many events such as the Pune Derby. The track is a 3,200 metre oval turf track.
Madras Racecourse is also known as Guindy Racecourse and is one of the oldest racecourses in India. The track was first built in 1777 in Guindy. It is operated by the Madras Race Club.
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Ooty Racecourse is located in Ooty and is also operated by the Madras Race Club which hosts many events at this track. It is a highland racecourse so the altitude is much higher. It is also one of the smaller tracks and takes up 55 acres and the track is 2,400 metres.
Mysore Racecourse is located in the Mysore district and is used by people from the Karnataka area. It is said to be the most picturesque race track in India as it is locat- ed in the foothills of the Chamundi Hills. It is operated by the Mysore Turf Club and is very exclusive and only allows 250 members in each year. It is oval shaped and extends to around 2,000 metres.
SPORTS BETTING India is regarded as the hotbed of global betting syndi-
cates with gamblers and bookmakers all involved in a network of illegal ‘spot fixing’. The latest scandal last year saw several bookmakers arrested and the idea now is to ascertain whether legalised betting can exist in India without the stigma attached and whether it can then eradicate illegal betting.
Although internet gambling is technically illegal (bar via Sikkim’s PlayWin Lotto) there is nothing stopping
players betting online with offshore bookmakers.
Sports betting falls under state jurisdiction. Although the sports minister can propose a bill, sports betting cannot be legalised nationally.
Due to the problem with the Indian banking system there are only a small number of bookmakers who can proper- ly service the market and these include Bet365, William Hill, Ladbrokes and Betfair
Up until the year 2000 India’s online gambling sector managed to avoid restrictions mainly because there was nothing in state legislature which deemed it to be illegal.
The Information Technology Act 2000 did regulate the online sector but only prohibited publication of informa- tion online that can ‘corrupt’ people which although includes online gambling information does not stop Indian gamblers from betting over the internet. The penalty for online gambling is up to Rs100,000 fine or up to five years imprisonment.
In May 2011 the Federal Information Technology Act was introduced which was intended to restrict online gam-
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