Panjim, Feb 18: Many top bookies and big punters have shifted base from Mumbai on the eve of the Cricket World Cup to avoid the attention of the police. While some have moved to plush farmhouses on the outskirts of Mumbai, others have moved to Gujarat and a few are camping at casinos in Goa, according to a report in Mid-Day.
Law enforcement agencies are now equipped with phone tracking systems, making bookies vulnerable to arrests.
India remains the firm favourites given the advantage of home turf, and betting on the World Cup is going to be a huge money-spinner, says the report. The underworld, it says, is going to make a killing on the upcoming World Cup matches.
Sources say the turnover from the 49 World Cup matches could be higher than the country’s entire defence budget, estimated at around Rs 1.47 lakh crore. Estimates for the 18 group elimination matches are between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 crore per match. From the quarterfinal stage onwards, the stakes could move up to between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000 crore per match, Rs 4,000 crore if India makes the semi-final and a staggering Rs 5,000 crore if India reaches the final.
