1. Introduction
1.1 current Outlook
Policy changes
A day after the Law Commission of India released its report
entitled 'Legal Framework: Gambling and Sports Betting
Including in Cricket in India ("Report"), the Commission
released a press note stressing that its recommendation was to ban
betting and gambling in India. However, if the Central Government
or State Governments did consider regulating it, the Report set out
some positive and logical measures to combat certain industry
issues. The Report is under consideration by the Government.
On the heels of the Report, the Sports (Online Gaming and
Prevention of Fraud) Bill, 2018 ("Sports Bill") was
introduced as a private members bill in the Lok Sabha, on 28
December 2018. The Statement of Objects and Reasons accompanying
the Sports Bill has underscored that it has been introduced with
the dual aims of preserving integrity in sports and introducing a
regulatory regime for online sports betting.
