Business may be down, but not for bookies. With Lok Sabha elections and the Indian Premier League (IPL) on at the same time, money is flowing in the illegal betting business.
With two rounds of elections and many IPL matches yet to go, bookmakers claim they have already witnessed business worth thousands of crores.
The latest election-related bets are on who will become prime minister. Manmohan Singh is favourite, with bookies offering Rs 1.3 for every rupee bet on him. This means if Singh becomes the prime minister, a punter would not only get his rupee back but would get Rs 1.3 in addition. Following Singh is L.K. Advani with odds of Rs 2.15 for a rupee bet.
The bookies don’t rate Mayawati’s chances very high; they are offering Rs 15 for a rupee bet on her.
In the IPL, Delhi Daredevils is now the favourite, with odds of Rs 3.1 per rupee bet. Deccan Chargers follows with Rs 4. Dhoni’s Chennai Superkings, which was the favourite, slipped to third position with odds of Rs 4.7. Kolkata Knight Riders are now last in the bookies’ books, at Rs 18 per rupee bet.