I actually agree with Sithara007 that betting might actually reduce the chance of match fixing. Because the bookies are getting the money and the kick out of betting already. But the thing is I think neither option is going to be 100% safe. Removing the option to place a bet might inspire people to try match fixing. But that is something that can also be done with the presence of legal betting. Even if gambling is legal, there will be a certain set of hierarchy.
In the current modern world, it is almost impossible to remove batting or gambling. So the best thing is going to be making it legal and trying to exploit the positives of it.
When you ban something, actually there will be an urge to indulge in it. We all remember the IPL betting scandal that happened way back in 2013. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were arrested back then. And then two of the franchise owners (Gurunath Meiyappan from Chennai Super Kings and Raj Kundra from Rajasthan Royals) were found guilty of association with bookies. These incidents came to light by chance. 99% of the time, these activities never get revealed. Gambling is a big curse on cricket, and things are not going to change anytime soon.
I understand that gambling is a curse and it is not going to change anytime soon. But at the same time, if it is banned, people will try to actually do it illegally. That is going to cause a lot more problems compared to if betting is actually legal. And there are a lot of illegal things going on almost everywhere. And I absolutely agree with you that most of them does not even come to light. Actually, I cannot take any sides here. Because we live in a time when gambling is not going to stop. And as long as gambling is there, there will be certain types of illegal things happening. Doesn't matter if gambling is legal or illegal.
Betting can be legalised but match fixing is something different , those who are addicted to cricket are automatically addicted to gambling and betting so no use of stopping that because whatever the laws are people will indulge in this activity which is their hobby.
Match fixing should be checked as that's unfair for teams.
There is a very high chance of betting being made illegal, match fixing will increase. Because the bookies are not going to be able to find the money legally that they got from betting. So they are going to push toward match fixing.
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