India: 3 arrested over illegal cricket betting
Police in Dakshina Kannada, in the state of Karnataka, have arrested three people on charges of betting during a Lucknow SuperGiants and Sunrisers Hyderab match.
India.- Three people have been arrested for illegal betting on cricket matches in Dakshina Kannada, in the state of Karnataka in India. Police carried out a raid at a public place in Kudriya in Kolnad village after receiving information about illegal IPL cricket betting.
According to Times of India, when officers arrived, they found three people walking around with mobile phones in their hands and watching a cricket match on a laptop. They seized 11 mobile phones, a laptop and money.
Cricket remains India’s most popular sport. There is a huge underground cricket betting market said to be worth between US$45bn and US$150bn a year. Around 80 per cent of illegal sports betting in India is on Cricket.
Karnataka High Court overturns ban on skill-based gambling
In February, the Karnataka state government‘s decision to ban all forms of gambling in the state was overturned by the Karnataka High Court. The ruling was pronounced by a bench formed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Krishna S Dixit, who called the provisions “unconstitutional”.
Karnataka announced in September that it would amend its laws to prohibit all forms of betting and gambling, including games of skill. The amended Karnataka Police Act would make all forms of gambling (including online gambling) an identifiable crime.
The law came into effect on October 5. However, it has been challenged by at least 10 different petitioners, including the All India Game Federation (AIGF) and major Indian game companies such as Mobile Premier League and Junglee Games.
