Inside Asian Gaming

inside asian gaming May 2014 22 Insights The Last Gold Rush The prospect of gaming legalization in India has international operators excited, but much work remains to be done, according to India-based gaming consultant Albert Climent IAG: What’s your background in the gaming industry? Mr Climent: I’ve been working for the past eight years helping gaming companies in pre- and post-regulated markets to develop their businesses. I’m originally from Barcelona, so I worked there in Southern Europe representing and developing the businesses of some reputable e-gaming companies. In the last six years I’ve been following very closely the Indian case, and I decided to move my base to India about two years ago—I was travelling back and forth for six years before that—because I think it’s probably one of the last gold-rush markets left in our sector, and because I have some personal ties with the country. You say you’re working with the government and with companies. What specifically are you doing? I’m consulting for e-gaming companies trying to enter the Indian market, and advising the main policy advocacy groups in India that are trying to regulate sports betting and online gambling. In India there’s a lot of effort needed to educate the relevant sources of influence about the benefits of regulating the market and, you know, bringing some light into the issue. And right now the momentum is building very strongly for regulating sports betting in India due to the constant match-fixing scandals happening in the IPL, the Indian Premier League. Unfortunately, the majority of the current betting and gambling market in India is unregulated and controlled in most parts by underground operations, who also play a crucial role in most of the problems we are facing in sports in India, like match-fixing, spot-fixing, money laundering activities and other forms of criminality. Policing it is ineffective in terms of controlling the illegal activities. So the idea is, let’s just regulate and, you know, try to use some of those proceeds to protect the community, to protect the sport, to protect the fans. I’m also bringing some international exposure to the Indian case. I promoted and chaired the first-ever India Gaming Summit in London in February. I organized Albert Climent W hen gaming in India makes news, it is often for the wrong reasons— from cricket match fixing to breakups of local poker clubs. It is beset by contradictions— the country’s major religion disapproves, but it thrives nonetheless. It is also the subject of a patchwork of legislation that is reportedly difficult for even locals to navigate; however, a groundswell of legal and government support is building, backed by ardent card players who fight their cases and by a pro-gaming pressure group that wants to bring the industry out of the shade for the good of all. One member of that select group, entrepreneur and gaming consultant Albert Climent, sat down recently to speak with Inside Asian Gaming about the campaign to legalize gaming in this complex country. “Unfortunately, the majority of the current betting and gambling market in India is unregulated and controlled in most parts by underground operations, who also play a crucial role in most of the problems we are facing in sports in India, like match- fixing, spot-fixing, money laundering activities and other forms of criminality.”