@ SSPP

Dear , In my 27; years of racing life( part time) I never encouraged or invited anybody to racing world. Personally kept a good control of mind till the day even though very few times gone to races with out a drink.Three times I done some huge betting and lost after changed all tactics. Monthly only 15% of my income is used for my personal requirements in that race betting also come. Only my friends who attending races knows that I am also a player( frankly race fan). My field of interest is just pedigree analysis and to find a long shot through it, it required patience and time but if hit surely the investment will come back. So for me it is a game of real skill, even though people are behind quick and easy money. Because of this style I am still feel fresh like a new comer at races. So Live your own life, and life is full outside course.

@ Raghavanji,

It is Abhimanyu not uthara( she is his wife)

When one entering at Kranjivrace course a slogan is printed there in bold letters" This is not your life , The real life is outside"

All it matters related with racing addiction is solved in those word's. Nobody forcing anybody to marry, it is person's wish to marry and to lead a decent life , so he should be responsible for his family And punters are not responsible for attendance or betterment of race club. Those who don't want to die like once champion Jockey P.Shankar must carry out his duties and responsibilities. Entertainment needs are lying between 4/5 needs of a human being. 

And basically punter think's in a wrong way, he thinks he support the system really not, the big investor's support the system. Secondly with out knowing to with draw atvright time, punting is a game which drain our pockets. Frankly , I keep everything related with money in accountable. I can any time trace how much invested in any club and how much lost or gained. Same on jockies also.  One horse called earth sensor trained by antis, owned by rkw, not came in place for 16 times continuously, only those who keep record only can remember it. Anyway friend I am a racing fan and part time punter only, will enjoy life both personal and social as much possible, but always with in limits. If I am bankrupted race club may not give loan , only banks can. So expediate your duty play peacefully with free amount enjoy profit or loss. 

Anil Xk,

You are stating that punters should bet only after discharging all their commitment. 

90% of race punters will be having multiple loans from banks, co op societies, credit cards & loan sharks.  A few among them may also be burdened with housing loan, education loan for their children.  Very often their entire take home salary will not be sufficient to service those loans.   You are asking them to provide for all their commitments and risk only the balance amount!  Well.  If all punters take your suggestion seriously, then the attendance inside the race course will be less than 10% of what it is now.

The only way a punter can avoid the stranglehold of the bookies is races should be stopped.  Coronavirus has stopped that.  There is no betting since March 13.  

Of course, there will be some who brag that they would have won billions during the last 6 months if there were regular races.  I think, they should read that chapter in Mahabharata where Uttara was too confident of single handedly beating veterans like Bheeshma, Drona, Radheya, Ashwathama, Duryodhana.  Of course, his over confidence took a terrible beating when he saw the Kaurava army.

@ AnilXk : I never complain about people betting on horses. Who am I to do so? However, I am quite concerned about the middle and lower-middle class, who - in the name of punting - have put their family in extremely dire straits. I don't know if someone like you, owning a good job and guaranteed of a solid income, ever slip into such thoughts. Therefore, your individual  case should not be taken as an example here. I also know you don't have to really bother if you lose a few thousand rupees even daily. However, that is not the condition with everyone my dear. Hope you agree with me. I don't know if you will also agree that this is a one-way traffic and, therefore, those who don't know how to face their tomorrows should be discouraged to throw their very hard-earned money into this deceiving game. I say this today after rebuilding my life in a sound manner and enjoying a family monthly income of above three lakh rupees. So why should I feel frustrated? Let's show some concern for those who have been trapped here for different reasons and unable to relieve themselves from the shackles. I consider it a sin to come up with some unrealistic write-ups and hoodwink the hapless lot whose families are living a miserable life. Please think about it Anil.

Wow !! this sounds too good to be true. Hardcore punters drowning their sorrows or celebrating their winnings by discussing on all the important things the country's plagued with , without even thinking about how a jockey hooked in the 3rd race or how a trainer went with his doosra on 6th. 

@ Clever

     I don't say online betting will never become a reality in India but in a country where corruption and crime are as glaring as broad daylight, it looks to be an uphill task for the Centre to bring it into force. 

@ HP ++

     You are right, unless something is done on a warfooting to lower the taxes, online betting on horses will not find many takers. As you know, I am only bothered about the middle and lower-middle class sections, who will perish at a much faster pace from hereon.

 @ Chintu

     I never said anywhere in my post that all punters are fools (although most of them likely look so). Haven't you not seen the faces of many race-goers that appear to have lost all the sheen by way of losses? They can't smile properly, involve in any public function actively and all the time keep thinking about tomorrow's fortunes and the money that they have to get ready with for that. It is this 'single-point agenda' which I call addiction. Humans are humans until they enter the world of horse racing. After that, not a single soul remains pure. You can ask this question to yourself and find an answer from within.

     @ pg

     It's true that horse racing will not commence in India for the whole of 2020 but I can't be so speculative about online betting. Still it's good if it stretches for two long years as you foresee it.

     @ Nayaz

     It is because of people like you I continue to open my thoughts in this column. Out of the 20-odd rejoinders to my post so far, I find at least 5 of them finding truth in my expressions, and that's a solid 25% ! 

     @ M P Reddy

     Why should every person in a family start gambling? It's enough even if 2 or 3 members in a family resort to online betting. Take it from me, that such a family will be finished financially in a matter of months. We all try to hide the real fact that horse racing has only destroyed families. Not a single punter has so far come forward here and claimed regular success in punting. Everyone talks about recovering their losses. Sounds funny, isn't it? Meanwhile, is there anything wrong in crowning punters as gamblers? How much guts you have to declare in your office or among your relatives that you bet on horses and that you are a punter? That's the moment the society brands you as a 'gambler'.

     @ Rajesh Kumar Khatri

     Whenever we debate on an issue, we go by the average. Hope you agree with this. If so, it's true that drinking habit has gone up since March 2020 in many states post-pandemic. Similarly, once you allow online betting, there will be many people who will dash to their mobile windows to try their luck. Alcoholism only destroys the individual but horse racing finishes a full family !

     @ Mandy bash

     Let's not allow illegal betting even if online betting is permitted. These anti-socials have to be identified and reported to the concerned authorities (I don't mean race clubs because they hardly initiate any action in such cases fearing their survival) so that others don't dare to indulge in looting the general public anymore. Imagine the huge loss the government suffers by way of non-receipt of tax on account of illegal betting.

     @ Vijayakumar

     Young people can easily be attracted by online betting because they are masters in operating mobiles and computers. Once they come to know that there is a chance of making money this way, they will also start running behind horses (online though) at the expense of their parents' hard-earned money. I am quite concerned about that. I know many cases where gamble-minded bride grooms marry for the sake of dowry and spoil the lives of brides once their target is met. Police will tell you how many punters have turned into pickpockets and criminals. Many people here don't want to agree with it. I also can't help it.

     @ Sureshot/Razvi

     I will soon come up with a separate post on how online betting on stock exchange differs from that of horse racing.

     @ King Koti

     Bookies always make profit. The losses that they suffer on an odd day is negligible because they might have made crores of rupees on the remaining days of that month. Hardly you come across a lean bookie because they crush the punters and live on their hard-earned money. On the other hand, punters, who come into the race course in chubby or plumpy shapes, soon melt into drumsticks. This we see very regularly.

     @ Anil Xk

     You seem to be educated and well employed and, therefore, let me make it very clear that my cries are not for people belonging to your class. I raise my voice only for the economically-weaker sections, who land here by mistake and get stuck for the remainder of their life.

     Your suggestion to break the monthly salary into 10 portions may not be applicable to the daily wages, who lose in the race-course the few hundred rupees that they earn daily. So, you must have a broader look at what is happening in the society rather than trying to justify yourself. Even in your case, you have not said that you have been a profit-making punter. You only advocate that it's okay to lose one-tenth of your monthly earnings on horses.

     I gave up punting in 2014. Today I have a monthly earning of over three lakh rupees (including my wife's salary) and own two houses (soon building a third one). All this became possible in just a matter of six years (although we have loan EMIs for the next few years). So, why should I feel frustrated? I only feel pity at others who claim that horse racing is good for health, relieves you of mental stress and gets you friend in coffee shop inside race course (as if there are no cafes outside?) etc. It's time that every punter admits the truth that he has been addicted to such a level from where he finds it impossible to withdraw himself. It doesn't matter how much you lose as long as the fact remains that you don't make a steady profit. Then, what for you praise this industry, please tell me.

Dear SSPP,

There is nothing to worry about public going to gamble. In India liquour shops are opened from morning to midnight, hardly 4.3% of people uses it, and heavy drinkers are below 1.2. -% mostly contributed by Punjab and Kerala. But illicit liquor death's are reported from banned state's. In our society the option to enjoy with "similar" minded personal s are less.

It is a country with less no of adventurous sports and permission to get it required a large investment. 

Back to your view , it is created from frustration,with a single mode of loss due to mindless gambling as you mentioned earlier in your post's.

If a person getting 15000 salary ( a bachelor) he must divide that amount into various sectors.

Eg;

1- House rent- running month

2- Next month rental

3- Running month food and stationaries

4- next month first 15 days food and stationaries

5- Phone bill and Electricity bill

6- An amount to parents'

7- His personal expenses film, cigarette and drinks, dresses

8- An investment to his future in chits or deposit

9- Travelling expenses

10-  Hobbies.

The first 9 requirements are commitments, which can't been compromised, and nurturing hobby is last , I am dead sure at the end he may have maximum 700/800 rs only left for his hobby. If any idiot directly gone to races by expecting big sum with hard earned salary and lost racing authorities are not responsible. Most probably in your life this may be happened.

And more over in a house there are various rooms and places. Some areas are opened to all, but some are not . Eventhough while receiving friends and relatives we will show courtsey , but they are permissible to some areas only.If anybody discusses at his bedroom with friends his family will collapse.Friends are welcomed till visiters room only. Same is hobbies and extra curricular activities.

Liquour is a good friend, but limit it till visiters room maximum, if any body carry it to bedroom, he will collapse.

The same way racing also

Allocate a percentage budgeting to hobby( racing) as it continues for years.Do not over step it , if you get returns save it, most of the people's lost in racing as they concentrate more on gambling than their concerned work.

I have been in racing for 27 years, never failed to pay any commitments due to this habbit, as always expect worst from racing. Our group of friends keep racing strictly with in race course, none of us carry book's or any race related articles to home or either refer it.

We may call eachother just 10 minutes before entry and may meet at our regular point, then everybody tell their fancy for the day and will dis appear to crowd, as most of them bet at bookies counter. We may meet at coffee shop after 3 rd race ( at Bangalore) some may quit early as they comes by adjusting timing of any official meeting , out of them only three are drinking includes me, we may have our favourite drinks at our regular bar irrespective of profit / loss and will go home. Out side race course we never mention anything about betting. May discuss politics, History, and innovations, new project's in hand etc. Proved that life is possible in tandem with races. 

Dear Srk

The Andhra Pradesh government banned online betting not Hyderabad government as you mentioned.

How many punters take their race books home???

So you can only  imagine how many will disclose their financial details to open an online account//

@Ksmrow 

So according to you betting on horse racing is ok(i mean by the act).But when it comes to online wagering,it's illegal?

@SSPP

When it comes to online wagering,you are right sir,it's dangerous.I have  seen many people lost their money,time,relations and even their soul.

Innocents without any knowledge attracted to  fast money and lose at the long run.what are these games? 

According to my knowledge there are of two types:-

1.Games of skill

2.Games of chance

Poker,Horse wagering and rummy comes under Games of skill[poker and horse wagering has been proved all over the world it's come under games of skill,regardind rummy it's case is still running in court].

All other games come under ganes of chance and people will lose monety no matter what how much they gamble.

Why dont government ban all the websites which are running games of chance?

I always wonder if a punter bet in race course to back a winner,he has to pay tax to the bookmaker and if he wins he get the winning amount along his money he invested and the tax goes to club or the government.But if he lose the money goes to the bookmaker and the bookmaker doesn't pay tax on his wiinings.Why is that?

I mean the punter has to pay tax whether he win or lose.But bookmaker doesn't pay any tax on his winnings and when the bookmaker loses he pays the tax from the money he gets from the punter.That doesn't sounds right?

I may be wrong,but it would be nice if someone throw some light in to it?

Your comments and suggestions are excellent .... but tell me difference between Online Betting and Online Stock Market Shares Trading, I think both are same.

Dear sspp 

No doubt your write-up concerns good of society.

I just wanted to ask u ,why dont u raise ur voice against sharemarket trading,rumy game etc online betting.

Thnx.

@ SSPPji,

 Dear Sir,

 A very good writeup narrating the ill-effects of the proposed online betting on horse racing.

 The short break you have taken to stay off from HT is my cause for concern. But it seems you are very much on the forum and now came back with a bang with a nice article.

 I totally agree with your avertions. Recently in Chennai also, a 20 year college student committed suicide inside a tattoo studio, after allegedly lost his savings in online betting. After this incident many professionals and online forums urge the government to introduce legal but regulated online betting in India to bring the gambling economy out of the grip of mafia and underground dons.

 While proponents of the sport argue that online betting can be a huge source of income, Critics claim that it leads to crime, corruption and money laundering.

 Really an eye opener to all compulsive punters.  Looking forward to many more articles from you.

1. Hi everyone from today 4th September 2020
2. Hyderabad government has banned online gambling

I dont understand who wants to bet online by paying 28%+5%, Tax. It will be an ULTIMATE FLOP.

Once Race starts punter will call the bookies and place bets , this is how punters will play their game.

as per your saying every body should have turned into alcoholic in this country ,because govt has permitted sale of alcohol .

Just information better know What is going on.

Hyderabad police arrested Yah Hao, the online firm's head of operations for Southeast Asia, and three Indian directors of the firm — Dheeraj Sarkar, Ankit Kapoor and Neeraj Tuli — after two men from Hyderabad lost Rs 1.64 lakh and Rs 97,000 while gambling online.Aug 14, 2020As per investigation carried out by Hyderabad police, it was found that online gaming was being organised by initiating prospective gamers through Telegram groups. Entry is by reference only and members who introduce a certain member are paid a commission on the lines of MLM (multi-level-marketing ). On these groups, the admins will indicate the websites, which changes daily, where the registered members play games and place bets.

“We got two complaints The amount looked small but when we investigated we found this racket is big and the modus operandi is different,'' Anjani Kumar, Hyderabad Police commissioner said.Till now there are 28 such complaints from all over the country and the group was planning to register a company in cayman islands. The total value of the inward transaction on the two accounts traced so far is nearly Rs 1100 crore, majority of which took place in 2020. Most of the remittances have been transferred to different accounts some of which are in overseas. Total overseas remittances known as of now is Rs 110 crore. 

 The domain name servers of the gaming websites are located in China and the cloud-based data hosting services are based in the United States. The entire technical operation is run by China-based directors/partners of thesecompanies. 

The payments are routed through India based payment service providers like Paytm and other cash free mediums. These fraudulent companies are controlled through a firm called “Beijing T Power Company'' based out of China.

“The websites and the programmed gaming is such that at first, you will feel you are winning but slowly you lose money for sure. Not only gaming, these Chinese are also enticing gullible Indians to dangerous dating apps, phishing and fleecing money,'' informed Shikha Goel, Additional Commissioner (Crimes),The four are to be produced in a local court on Friday.

Telangana Gaming Act says: 

Gaming means playing a game for winnings or prizes in money or otherwise and includes playing a game of mutka or satta or online gaming for money or any other stakes and lucky board and wagering or betting, except where such wagering or betting takes place upon a horse race.”

Dear. SSPP ji, as for your write up , if center Government allows online betting it will spread from person to person,family to family, Mohalla To Mohalla like Corona pandemic. Finally every person in India will  start GAMBLING on line. This is not correct.

One thing SSPP ji,you are  calling the  PUNTERS as GAMBLERS?  Very very objectionable. For gamblers there are  so many opportunities in different fields to gamble.For a punter only race course.He will go there enjoy the racing, bet on horses that he likes ,than rest of the time he will be busy with his business or duties.

The addiction of gambling and  cancer is cured to you.Now you are a peRson leading  normal  life.But unfortunately nobody will follow your teachings and advices  because they new you were a gambler  but not a calculated punter.

Boss ur thoughts r very gud if BTC wants online BTC will be closed because what the JUDGE favored the workingstaff so racing will be with spectators forgot online

Great thought sir for humanity at least people like u are thinking about this

Online gambling in racing will not happen in India for another 2 years.

So wait till then. And horse racing will nott start before next year.

Sir,

I disagree with your post about online betting. All the people are not fools that they become addicts of everything. Neither they will become animals nor some sort of evil minded people. I agree that horse racing doesnot fetch any profits to most of the people. But at this scenario, online betting is the best option for the horse racing to continue. 

FYI, Online betting sites are already available and so many people are already into it. But humans are humans.

With the level of today;s taxation its going to be a BIG flop!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No sensible punter will fall for it...

But then:::::;;;;""""''''' will it start??

Online betting will not be possible in India. There has to be some other way out. GOD knows what the other way out should be.

Very animalistic writeup..... no wonder gambler turns into an animal. whether past or present.  Now he survives on other sorrows to feed himself.

Dear sir 

Why should u bother about online betting.real punters only come to betting ring so far.