The sports betting industry has grown rapidly over the last few decades and is now a multibillion-dollar industry. Sports betting is illegal in India under the current legal framework. The Public Gambling Act, 1867 is the primary piece of legislation that severely restricts gambling by excluding certain categories. It is contradictory in that it allows gambling in horse racing but prohibits it in other sports. Because it is a colonial law, it is also ignorant of online gambling. The current framework is incapable of elucidating an issue that is rapidly escalating. Sports betting is unavoidable, and legalising gambling appears to be the only solution to this enormous problem. Several committees, including the Mudgal Committee and the Lodha Committee, have taken a strong stance in favour of legalising sports betting. Regulating sports betting will provide financial benefits to the government, assist in job creation, and reduce the threat posed by black markets.
The law was based on the premise that it is a game determined entirely or partially by chance, but gambling in sports involves the application of skill and knowledge by the individuals involved in the activity. The research paper addresses a significant contemporary issue that is horrifying in nature and attempts to propose a solution to it. The authors will assess the current situation of sports betting in India, provide arguments for its legalisation, and compare it to the international scenario in this research paper. To reach a firm conclusion, the authors relied on books, law journals, credible internet sources, and credible reports and articles.
