Law Commission vets impact of allowing betting

The Law Commission is examining how to strike a balance between the monetary benefits and the social impact of betting if it were to be legalised at a time when legitimising betting in sports has gained traction in the country. The commission is yet to conclude findings on the issue of legalising betting in sports.

The commission has been tasked by the Supreme Court to look into the issue of sports betting legalisation based on Justice Lodha Committee report. The commission was asked by the top court to examine two crucial aspects. Firstly, whether betting should be legalised and if it is, then what should be the framework of the central legislation to be enacted by the Parliament.

The commission is moving beyond the expected financial gains to the state and exploring the probable social impact of legalising betting in sports.

What safeguards can be put in place to protect the members of a family whose sole breadwinner loses all his/her earnings in betting? These are some of the questions the commission will examine closely. The commission is also examining whether revenue generation can be the sole driving force to legitimise betting in sports.

“Gujarat has been a dry state for years now. Recently, Bihar government also chose to order liquor ban in the state. Ban on liquor is a huge dent in the revenue collection including excise duty of a state. So, if states have decided to relinquish such monetary gains to ensure social organisation and peace in the society, it is imperative to explore whether economic benefits can be the sole justification for legitimisation of betting,” a senior member of the Law Commission of India, requesting anonymity, told ET.

ET VIEW: Legalise Betting
India must legalise Kendriya Vidyalayas betting. A ban merely pushes the activity under-ground, leading to crime, unaccounted money and forgone taxes. The need is for legislation and regulation to prevent the use of betting for funding criminal activities and money laundering. However, the concern that regulation would open up chances that people might gamble money and wreck their families is not misplaced. Settle for lesser of two ills.