Hyderabad home to big gambling rackets

Hyderabad: It is not just locals, but even interstate cricket betting rackets are active in Hyderabad.  The big Mumbai-New Delhi-based racketeers have placed their agents in the city to capitalise on the Indian Premier League. Unlike local racketeers, interstate operators accept only high-stake bets. An agent, Narsing Das Bajaj, who was arrested by the task force, said that he was working for commission for racketeers operating from New Delhi and Mumbai. A source said that there were two kinds of agents in Hyderabad who worked for major interstate betting rackets.

“One group takes money from their bosses who are in New Delhi or Mumbai and place bets on behalf of them. They work for commission for ‘betting investors’. The other group works as agents of major betting organisers. They do not take money from their bosses or place bets on behalf of them. They do only the managing of betting for their bosses by inviting punters who are ready to place huge amounts as bets,” said a source from the betting circle. Hyderabad police investigated why this new fad is catching on in city.

“For agents in Hyderabad, it is a risk-free business. They do not put money into this  but earn a commission. The entire risk is borne by the organisers sitting in New Delhi or Mumbai,” said task force DCP B. Linga Reddy.   Since this year’s IPL final match is also scheduled at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad the organisers wanted to cash in on the cricket craze in the city. Meanwhile, there is also a group of betting racketeers who concentrate on online betting. They use websites like Betfair.com. and operate on behalf of punters for a commission. Police say most of them earn up to five per cent for each bet from punters. They talk to punters on the phone and record conversations in order to avoid disputes as the game progresses, police said.