On Saturday, Gurugram Police arrested 20 people for allegedly betting on the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The cricket tournament started last month, on September 19, and police forces have already handled several incidents of unauthorized betting on cricket and the breach of the Public Gambling Act.

According to Hindustan Times, two bookmakers were arrested for operating from a flat in DLF Phase 4, taking bets on a Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals match; six more people were arrested in New Developing Sectors. One more raid was conducted in Sushant Lok, where the police seized various equipment and INR20,000 ($270) in cash. 

Assistant commissioner of police Preet Pal Sangwan said such operations become more common during sporting events, but assured the police “are cracking down on all such activities." The organizers of this illegal gambling usually communicate with a person who is present in the match and informs them of the score and the odds. The bookie then takes the bets, recording the changing odds throughout the match for maximum profit.  

Sangwan stated: “So far we have found that these bookies bet on all such sporting activities and organize betting sessions from residential areas. They mostly use WhatsApp for communication and have a nexus with bookies at several locations across the city.”