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The mercury is rising, and it is not just the temperature, but also the bets being placed on the semi-final cricket match tomorrow at Mohali. In the last four days alone, bets of Rs 1,000 crore were placed on the match, taking the tally thus far to Rs 4,500 crore, said a source with the Mumbai Police.
In fact, this is among the largest amounts placed as bets, the source told Business Line . Even during IPL, the bets placed did not cross Rs 3,000 crore. However, given the complexities of the India-Pakistan relationship and the underlying political process, the match has attracted unprecedented attention from the bookies, the source added.
The Indian team is the favourite at 55 paise and for the Pakistan team it is Rs 1.60 — that is, for every rupee placed on the Indian team, the person gets Rs 1.55 if India wins. Similarly, if Pakistan wins, the person gets Rs 2.60.
Placing of bets and the disbursal of the winnings are all clandestine operations, with bookies not entertaining strangers. Bookies operate from a house, a car and at times even a coastal ferry, the source explained. And due to pressure from the police, some bookies even go overseas during the cricket season and conduct their business over phone, in using a code language, the source said.
Among this year's top draws is the Rs 8 bet on Sachin Tendulkar scoring a century in the match. Bets have even been placed on the number of runs scored by the teams: 40 paise for India scoring between 275 and 295, and 35 paise for Pakistan hitting any where between 310 and 320. Bookies have even travelled to Dubai, Karachi and other destinations in South Asia for taking bets, the source said, adding that underworld dons like Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel are also known to be in the loop.
Online betting companies such as William Hill, Ladbrokes, Blue Square and Victor Chandler too are taking bets over the Internet. There is even an iphone application for taking bets, however it was not clear if cricket is on the menu, the source said.
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