IPL 2013: Illegal betting turnover to reach Rs 40000 crore this season

Zeenews Sports Bureau

New Delhi: The illegal betting market in Indian Premier League is witnessing an increased participation from people employed in white collar jobs, according to a report. Due to the chances of winning big and the ability to place small bets, more white-collar professionals are turning to betting. According to a report in Economic Times, a direct result of this trend is being reflected in the current season of the Indian Premier League. The business daily quoted bookies as saying that the bets in IPL-6 will be worth Rs. 40,000 crores – a significant rise of 25% than the previous edition. How much this betting industry, operated from Portugal, has grown can be gauged from the fact that the inaugural edition of IPL saw bets of Rs 6,000 crore. The report also revealed that Hyderabad is the “IPL punters` capital” as 20% of all the bets originate from there.