Indian bookies taking to the internet

The current drive in India against corruption in cricket’s Indian Premier League has unearthed evidence that illegal bookies are diversifying their operational tactics beyond cell phone communications and personal collections, reports the Deccan Herald newspaper.

Police investigations indicate that top bookies from India and Pakistan are using an authorised gambling website based in the Netherlands to share prior information on under-performance in matches to a select audience.

The software used by gambling sites helps punters to instantly mail people logged in to access winning probability trends, the newspaper reports.

Police sources said the investigators have identified a software branded “Back and Lay” that bookies have used since India lifted the World Cup in 2011.

The trend is a breakaway from the past, when bookies used mobile phones called “dabbas,” to relay information on betting once the rates opened in Dubai on the day of matches.

Questioning of several bookies revealed that the website also takes bets on other sports like basketball, football, tennis and horse-racing, said the sources. It also offers live betting options where gamblers pay to become members and place bets, said the sources.

The police found that leads offered on the website were similar to trends in the played matches, with one source explaining that this route was possibly chosen to hedge illegal activity and take major commissions from persons playing through the website, which reportedly has a valid European licence.

The Herald says that the advantage of website betting for the bookies is that it removes the risk police eavesdropping on mobile phone communications.

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