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India eyes betting law
The Indian government is considering a new law aimed to combat the issue of spot-fixing in sport following the arrest of cricketers and bookmakers last week.
Illegal gambling rife in Indian cricket
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Government officials said the move was triggered by the arrest last Thursday of former India test bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and two other players - along with 11 bookmakers -on suspicion of spot-fixing in the country's lucrativeTwenty20 cricket league.
Betting regulation
The three players have been immediately suspended by the cricket board after they were accused of receiving money for conceding a particular amount of runs in an over.
According to a Reuters report, Law Minister Kapil Sibal has consulted sports minister Jitendra Singh and a new bill will likely be introduced in the next session of the Indian parliament.
Sports secretary PK Deb said that the government had been mulling over different ways to control and regulate betting, adding that the UK and Australian systems have been studied.
Corruption
Horse racing is the only sport which can be legally gambled on in India; however reports suggest illegal betting syndicates thrive with no law dealing specifically with such corruption in sport. Estimates put the amount gambled on the Twenty20 competition at $427 million in 2009.
