BANGALORE, April 24: Leading international betting agencies, including Ladbrokes and Betfair, are eager to help in a campaign to make sports betting legal in India and have approached a senior Indian Premier League (IPL) official with offers in this regard.An estimated US$2 billion is believed to ride on illegal cricket bets for each international match in India.

“There has been an informal approach from Ladbrokes, and an official offer from Betfair, to develop a blueprint for legalised sports betting operations in India,” I.S. Bindra, a member of the IPL governing council, said.

“According to the estimates, over $ 2 billion is being bet illegally on international matches in India. So what’s wrong in legalising the activity in such a way that it’s a win-win situation for the government, the punters and stakeholders?” Bindra asked.

Ladbrokes and Betfair are both based in the UK and are eminent sports betting agencies with offices around the globe.

Bindra added that there has been a renewed interest from various parties on legalising sports betting since the IPL began on April 18.

In fact, Ladbrokes has started a separate betting section on the IPL with odds offered on every game and main performances.

Bindra, who is also the ICC’s new principal advisor-designate, has been at the forefront of a campaign to legalise sports betting in India, where the activity is a criminal offence.

Bindra said he had discussed a possible blueprint for legalised betting in detail with senior Betfair officials through a recent conference call arranged by Manoj Badale, the UK-based co-owner of the IPL’s Jaipur franchise.

“We want to build public opinion on this issue before we approach the government with any kind of a proposal or request.—Agencies