With the Indian Premier League, Season 9 just a few days away from now, the debate over legallising betting in the game has again started making rounds, as the league in the past has been plagued with controversies. Will it help in curbing the malpractices associated with the highly successful league, or will it just aggravate the problems. Let’s take a look.
PROS
1. It can play a big role in the hike of economy, as it does for Britain as for 2008, 3 billion pounds gross VAT was collected from these activities which in turn created above 40000 jobs.
2. It's another game linked with a particular game. It depends on a particular individual/gambler how they gamble. A dump person can gamble for everything and lose everything while as a wise person know their limits.
3. Great impact on economy of the country, if the output and employment are concerned.
4. If betting can’t be legalised, then what about the share markets? There is no certainty in share prices, especially the Indian share market and many individuals are cheated there, everyday.
5. Criminalizing it doesn’t stop its occurrence. Whether it’s IPL or BBL. Betting is everywhere.
6. If it’s not legal, it invites the unscrupulous elements to get involved in it.
CONS
1. There are numerous examples where the people have lost their everything in betting/gambling, wasted their savings and committed suicide. Legalising it may lead to increase in the number of suicides.
2. A country in which even lottery is banned in many states, how can we consider them to legalise betting.
3. There is a broad rooted belief that gambling is a social evil, certainly true to some extent.
4. It can never eliminate match fixing/spot fixing. Human greed can’t be controlled. So there is no meaning of legalising it.
5. Let the sports be a gentleman game. Betting kills the spirit of game.
By Shashank Vyas
