Horse racing is arguably one of the most cherished sports in India. The British brought horse racing to India during the colonial period. Soon after, the sport became tremendously popular among the locals. It is now a mainstream sport with a lot of followers across the country. And even though horse racing is quite exciting, betting on horse races makes it even more thrilling.
Given that India has strict laws in regards to gambling, most people wonder why horse racing betting seems to be thriving. To understand the legal framework surrounding horse racing betting in India, read on.
The position of law on gambling in India
For the longest time, the Indian Courts have viewed gambling as a social evil that deprives man of his income and stunts economic growth. The courts have always insisted that gambling is harmful to the public. This is because the outcome of betting activities depends on luck. You either win or lose, and none of these outcomes are guaranteed. Most forms of gambling in India are restricted. However, there are some exceptions. For example, some states like Goa and Sikkim allow gambling, but not without some restrictive measures.
Why laws are different
In regards to the law, gambling in India is a gray area. Different laws apply to various forms of gambling in India. Some of them allow gambling in a controlled manner, while others disallow gambling without much of an explanation. So, are there different laws of gambling? The answer to this question is in the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution. In section 2 of this schedule, the State Governments are allowed to draft their laws on gambling.
A state may choose to either prohibit or permit any form of gambling, and the Central Government can’t interfere. The state governments not only legislates on gambling issues, but also decides on how to tax betting activities. Therefore, the Central Government doesn’t partake in matters of betting taxes of State Governments.
India is made up of 29 states and each one of them makes its betting laws. And this is what makes the legal framework abutting gambling and betting a gray area.
Who regulates the horse racing industry in India?
Horse racing enthusiasts relish betting on horse racing and they can do it freely as it is not illegal. The Government has tried to challenge its legality, but the horse racing betting stakeholders have been resilient.
A few decades ago, the Supreme Court passed judgment that upheld the legality of horse race betting in India. This might lead you to wonder why horse race betting is legal, and prominent in India, while other forms of gambling are restricted?
In one of the earliest Supreme Court rulings between the State of Andhra and K. Satyanarayana, the court ruled a game of shuffled cards was purely based on the element of chance. Players don’t possess special skills. They just wait for luck. That was reason enough for the court to rule against gambling. Games such as Roulette and Lottery fall in this category. However, horse racing is a game of skill. Jockeys have to train hard in preparation for the race, and so do the horses.
A horse winning the race may be based on chance, but other factors also determine the race. These include how well the horse and the rider trained. The chances are that a well-trained horse ridden by a physically fit and skillful rider is likely to win the race.
In Dr. K.R Lakshmanan Vs State of Tamil Nadu, the Apex Court upheld that horse racing isn’t the same as gaming. In this distinct case law, the courts reiterated that horse racing is a game of skill, and betting on it is, therefore, legal.
Who regulates the horse racing industry in India?
The Turf Authority of India is the regulating body of horse racing in India. The Authority is made up of 5 members, which include;
Royal Calcutta Turf Club in Kolkata
Royal Western India Turf Club, Ltd. racing at Mumbai and Pune
Madras Race Club racing at Chennai and the hill station of Ootacamund
Bangalore Turf Club Ltd at Bengaluru 5
Hyderabad Race Club at Hyderabad Royal Calcutta Turf Club in Kolkata
The Delhi Club (1940) Ltd and the Mysore Club Ltd are also members of this authority.
However, each of these clubs has its governing committee. Once you become a member of any of these clubs, you are allowed to bet freely.
Most common horse race bets in India
- Win- This is all about picking the winning horse in a certain race
- Jackpot- The jackpot is quite intriguing. Its stakes are high, and so is the reward. A bettor has to pick 5 horses that will emerge as winners of 5 different races.
- Place- This is where a bettor picks the horse that will take the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd position.
- Treble-In a treble bet, you are expected to choose the winning horses in 3 different races.
- Kenchi- Kenchi involves selecting the winning horses in 3-5 races.
- Tanala- Players have to select three horses that will win a race in a particular order. If you don’t get the order of winning right, you receive a small reward.
- Quinella- A player selects 2 horses to win the races in whichever order.
- Accumulator- This is where you pick a horse to Place or Win in 2 to 6 different races. If the horse is successful consecutively, you win the bet. In case it loses in one of the selections, you lose.
- Bar bet- This involves betting on the horse that is more likely to win, to lose. This means any horse, other than the favourite, to win
Most recognized horse races in India
There are a lot of horse races in India. However, the most notable races are the 5 classics. These are;
- 1000 Guineas
- 2000 Guineas
- The India St Ledger
- The Indian Derby
- The India Oaks
The Indian Derby is popular due to its massive reward that amounts to 30 million rupees. It presents the finest Indian horse racing talents. Jockeys and their horses have to endure a fierce battle to win the race.
Why horse racing is considered legal in India
Horse racing is a sport that requires a lot of hard work. Riders and horses train vigorously for the actual race. While riders concentrate on physical fitness and riding technique, the horses have to be in their best shapes. The horse in the best shape is always likely to win the race. Players who bet on horse racing can win by just identifying the best horse. As you can see, the outcome is not based on chance. For this reason, the law acknowledges that horse racing is a game of skill and allows the fans to bet on it.
The legal framework surrounding gambling might be a grey area in India, but the law on horse racing is crystal clear. In all the 29 states of India, horse racing fans can go to their favourite racecourse and bet for their favourite horses.
Related Horse Race Clubs
- Bangalore Race Club
- Delhi Race Club
- Hyderabad Race Club
- Madras Race Club
- Mysore Race Club
- Royal Calcutta Turf Club
- Guindy Race Course
- Pune Race Club