The recent crackdown on betting rackets and short-term casinos in Delhi-NCR has driven the
city's ... عرض المزيدThe recent crackdown on betting rackets and short-term casinos in Delhi-NCR has driven the
city's gambling businesses to take their trade online.
The operators are increasingly using digital platforms and online
apps, hosted outside the country, to hold chance game events amid a closed,
members-only community.
The weeks ahead of Diwali are considered the peak season for gambling when playing cards or other
luck games is considered auspicious by many, swelling the
number of players looking to try their luck.
Gambling in India is heavily restricted bar some lotteries and horse
racing
Operators create exclusive clubs online where clients can place their
bets in real time and the money is collected offline the following day.
'We have inputs about gambling agents who are sharing links with businessmen of Delhi-NCR to play card games online and huge money is being traded each
night,' a senior Delhi Police official told Mail Today,
requesting anonymity.
'Earlier, they used to rent a farmhouse or bungalow
for organising poker, card-based games, and roulette around the festival of Diwali but now these agents
are using digital covers for their operations.'
Offshore Casino 'Pride' in Panaji Goa one
of the few states where gambling is allowed
The official admitted that it is difficult to crack down on online players as most of the
websites are hosted abroad.
'There are several roadblocks, which includes getting a log from the
said app or site operator. Simultaneous raids at
individual houses and gathering technical evidence are
other impediments,' the police officer said.
Experts said apps like PPpoker gives an option of hosting the card game where local players
can be invited through their social media page.
There are other websites likes 888casino, Williams Hill and 1xbet that offer
popular live casino games.
Confirming the spike, UP Police Special Task Force (STF) additional superintendent Triveni Singh said, 'Playing
chance-based games, including card and number games
on the online platform, is increasing as general perception is that it is legit.
It is not. We have received specific inputs and based on that we are tracking traffic going to popular
gambling and betting sites.
The official admitted that it is difficult to crack down on online players
as most of the websites are hosted abroad
'We have solid leads of some of the major operators.' Explaining
the modus operandi, one of the legal casino operators
from Goa told Mail Today that agents create their own playing arena on global sites.
'Gambling agents have a closed group of players and no
outsider is invited. Only people with references can place
the stakes. The confirmation about the invite comes
at the eleventh hour and the link to the gaming arena is shared through WhatsApp or other such
messaging apps,' the operator explained.
'Players use an allotted nickname and there is no transaction of real
money. Only points and credit score codes are provided. After the end of
each game, the credit score is noted and the
next day an agent goes and collect the money from the players,
' the operator said.
Police officials estimate that each year during Diwali, over
Rs 1,000 crore are pumped in 'illegal gambling' in the national Capital.
As these games involve cash, it attracts a lot of unaccounted money.
But experts say these figures are just a tip of the iceberg as underground gambling is multi-billion industry
in those Indian states where betting is illegal.
The recent crackdown on betting rackets and short-term casinos in Delhi-NCR has driven the city's gambling businesses to take their trade
online
Gambling is prohibited in a 'common gaming house' when there is
an element of commercial motive for the organisers.
However, gambling in a private enclosure where there
is no invitation to members of the public and no element of 'profit or gain', is
not illegal.
While popularity of digital gambling is rising, experts say the traditional ways remain popular as
ever.
'I don't see traditional ways of betting going down. Players still like to sit across the
table with real players, read their expression and place their bets with adrenalin rush,' said Jay
Sayta, a researcher in gambling laws and founder of GLaws.in, a gaming laws
web portal.
'But yes, a large number of people have also moved online.
With dedicated forums to host gambling games to live
casinos, Indians are playing it all.'
Jay said it is tough for law enforcement agencies
to keep a check on offline and online gambling.
'Gambling is a bailable offence and hence not a deterrence.
Laws related to gambling are quite old and do not
cover the online part of it.
While IT laws can be applied on gamble offenders,
it is still tough for cops to catch the online operator, agents or players,' said Sayta.
Last week police arrested a suspended Gurugram Police head constable for
allegedly running an illegal casino in the upscale South City-I
colony.
RELATED ARTICLES
Previous
1
Next
Bangladesh steps up patrols at West Bengal border over fears...
Cattle, workers and relics of India's colonial past face an...
Share this article
Share
Cops also arrested 41 people, including city businessmen and four women.
Meanwhile, All India Gaming Federation has demanded making
skill-based games legal.
'The casino business has huge potential as it can generate revenue for the state.
Black money is involved in it as it is not legal.
'As soon as a state decides to legalise and regulate it, many corporates will come forward to operate it professionally,' said Roland Landers, CEO AIGF.
Also visit my web-site :: pgjoker
LF
Lin Fernie
يعيش في Schonreith, النمسا.
في علاقة.
نبذة مختصرة
The recent crackdown on betting rackets and short-term casinos in Delhi-NCR has driven the
city's ... عرض المزيد