What are the reasons behind sports betting being illegal in India?

Gambling or betting are some of the most debated topics in India. The two topics have been the centre of many debates for a very long time. The Public Gambling Act of 1867 currently regulates all betting and gambling-related activities.

Any action that involves gambling money or any other equivalent is prohibited by the statute. Games that require skill are the only exception to the aforementioned rule that is authorised in India.

Here is a look at the reasons behind sports betting being illegal in India:

Increases crime

People who lose money at gambling yet remain dependent on it frequently resort to thievery, whether it be from others or their own properties. Even loan sharks are used by people to borrow money in an effort to recover lost funds. If betting is made legal, there is a chance that people may use it as a means of scrubbing money obtained from other unethical practices. After losing all their money on gambling, some people have taken their own lives in extreme situations. There have been several stories of youth suicides from all throughout the nation.

Sports integrity gets disturbed

Even though there are only two outcomes from betting—win or lose—it can become more problematic when combined with online gaming and sports. Everyone wants to wager and win, therefore match-fixing attempts are made to achieve the desired outcome. In an effort to win the wager, some gamblers do speak with the contestants and officials. They either try to influence the player to perform poorly or collect information from the officials in order to make a wager that is safe. When betting and match-fixing are coupled, people may lose faith in the sport and the contest, or the sport may lose devoted supporters who play a vital role in the neighbourhood. Additionally, the game can have an impact on the player’s emotional state.

Game of chance or a game of skill?

The argument between games of skill and games of chance is another song that argues that betting is banned for the majority of activities in India. These are the two types of gaming available in India. Games of chance are prohibited because they are regarded as a kind of gambling, but games of skill are accepted as genuine activities.

“Games of chance” are solely dependent on the player’s luck. Anyone can play these games by putting money into them and hoping for the best; no prior expertise is necessary. Examples include betting on various sporting events and playing electronic games like online slots and video game tournaments.

“Game of skill” refers to games that demand prior knowledge of the game being played. It is essentially impossible to win the game without the correct understanding of the game’s mechanics. Card games like Rummy and Poker are excellent examples.

Morality

Even while many people like placing bets on various sporting events, most Indians believe gambling to be immoral. Morality or ethics have been at the forefront of discussions since some people believe gambling is unethical. People frequently lose money when they wager, which furthers the perception that betting is unethical behaviour.

Long before any laws were made, betting was prohibited and viewed as stupidity. Even though it may not necessarily involve money, a wager still has the same meaning, which affects how individuals feel about gambling and other related behaviours.

Addictive

The act of gambling has been shown to be one of the most addicting activities. It falls under the category of impulsive disorder and can have a variety of harmful psychological, physical, and social implications.

Over the years, a number of tales about people losing money on internet betting have been published. Many of them play with the hopes of obtaining significant prizes, but they are unaware that millions of other people have similar goals.

Without anyone realising it, small sums of money that are initially spent on various bets add up to hundreds or lakhs of dollars. By the time people realise this, it is too late to recover the lost funds. It was clear from seeing so many individuals lose money on bets that betting needed to be outlawed and not permitted in any state.