NAGPUR: It’s not just Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta who are looking to make money out of the glitzy DLF Indian Premier League. Even the bookies of Vidarbha are hoping to cash in on the inaugural event, which brings together cricketers from around the world in a motley cocktail.
The title-sponsorship went for Rs 200 crore for five years. But local bookies are expecting business of at least worth Rs 500 crore in the initial stages of the 44-day event.
The betting will only increase towards the later stages of the league and the final figure can’t even be guesstimated.
“This amount is just for the Vidarbha region,’’ said a bookie. “In metros like Mumbai and Delhi, the amount could almost be four to five times more. For big clashes, we expect the volume to go up to Rs 100 cr per match.’’
The IPL has got the bookies very excited. “We did not do much business neither during the India-Australia Test series nor in the ongoing Triangular series,’’ said the bookie. “But we very hopeful of the IPL. The amount of money that’s been spent on players have seen many bettors coming to us with inquiries on the event. Even last year’s World Cup and World T20 did not generate so much interest.’’
Local bookies had an informal discussion following Wednesday’s auction in Mumbai. “We will decide on the favourites and the odds to be offered on the teams within a few days,’’ said the bookie.
An insider claimed that the ‘cricket satta’ centres in Vidarbha would soon be activated to ensure that each of the nodules attract maximum bettors. The bookies are expected to exercise caution in the city and may shift to the rural areas to escape detection by the city police.
During the Caribbean World Cup and the Twenty20 World Cup held in South Africa, the city-based bookies had a tough time evading the police. Now the bookies are expected to use laptops, mobile phone lines and fast-moving vehicles to avoid being caught by the cops.
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