The Karnataka state government decision to introduce a bill that it has prepared in the forthcoming winter session of the legislature starting on Dec 8 in Belagavi has brought cheer in the horse racing fraternity. The prepared bill will allow online betting on racing events. The government made it clear that the bill is being introduced ''keeping with the current trend of expanding exposure to racing events" and online betting prevalent in many other premier race clubs. 

The government thought it fit and considered it necessary to amend the Karnataka Race Course Licensing Act 1952 (Karnataka Act 7 of 1952) after learning that online betting is given the go-ahead and is taking place in race clubs of other states including the neighbouring states, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Royal Western Indian Turf Club (Mumbai) and the Royal Calcutta Turf Club in West Bengal, the Karnataka government observed are also facilitating on-line betting. 

The state department of Parliamentary Affairs has verified the proposed amendments and approved the bill to be placed in the winter session in legislature after  the amendments proposed by the finance department to the Karnataka Race Course licensing Act 1952 to make provisions to grant permission for online wagering. 

Finance department sources confirmed that racing doesn't come under other online games category since it is considered a game of skill and not a game of chance, it has proposed amendments to allow online wagering for racing events. "Betting in racing is mainly skill and knowledge-based as observed by the Supreme Court. However, it should be done through a licenced platform," sources in the finance department pointed out. 

Bangalore Turf Club (BTC), chairman Shivashankar delighted with the announcement emanating from the corridors of power said: "It is good for racing. Online betting will generate good revenue to the government and the club and more importantly it will stop the many illegal apps operating from outside the country. There are dime a dozen apps, who are big players in this online betting trade and they will be hit hard and it's time we clean them all out," said Shivashankar pointing out that this is a good move by the state finance department. 

The bill to allow online betting on racing events is one among the 31 bills that will come up during the winter session of the legislature.