India’s Sports Minister Vijay Goel has personally stated that at present there are no plans to fast track legalised sports betting. Responding to rumours, Goel stated to Indian media that the Sports Ministry had made no proposals or recommendations on sports betting.
As leader of the Sports Ministry, Goel reiterated that discussions were still taking place between the government and several Indian sports stakeholders.
Goel was forced to deny reports circulating that the Sports Ministry ‘had begun to lay the groundwork’ on drafting an Indian sports betting bill.
Speaking to the ANI News Agency, the Sports Minister stated that he was still opposed to legalising betting, but that the final decision would rest with the government
Despite the rejection, last week the Indian Gaming Federation (AIGF) released a White Paper to the Law Commission of India (LCI) detailing national provisions for creating an Indian regulatory framework for sports betting.
The White Paper pushes for a singular centralised framework for monitoring both land based and online betting with the creation of a National Gaming Council.
The AIGF makes its recommendations having been asked to work with the LCI into researching the benefits and disadvantages of legalising sports betting.
Indian news sources have further reported that the government may seek foreign consultation on creating a national sports betting framework from the UK. It is believed that Indian ministers have been impressed by sports funding initiatives subsidised by betting taxes, which have proved to be effective for the UK.
Source: SBC News
