Gambling in Pakistan

LAHORE: The number of gambling dens in the city has increased extensively, as the police have no time to check the illegal activity because they are more focused on preventing and protecting citizens from the fallout of terrorist attacks.

However, more than 18,000 people find the time to place their bets in 821 ‘not-so-secret’ gambling dens in the city every day, police sources said. These gambling points receive bets on cricket matches, derbies, card games and snooker.

Over Rs 120 million change hands every day at these gambling dens, and the amount multiplies enormously during cricket matches played by the Pakistani cricket team, which is the bookies’ most favourite game, as it receives the highest bets. These dens are located in different houses and apartments across the city.

Sources said the City Division had 303 gambling dens, Cantonment Division 134, Civil Lines Division 113, Iqbal Town Division 126, Saddar Division 54 and Model Town Division had 91 operational dens.

A den operator in the City Division said the amount of bet depends upon the background of a person placing it. “The rich usually start with a Rs 10 million bet. But there are other operators who don’t even have a total spread of Rs 1 million. They do business in small localities and are not connected to international gambling houses”, he said.

Crackdown: When contacted, City Superintendent of Police (SP) Zeeshan Asghar said the police were all set to launch a crackdown on such dens and their owners. “Our entire focus has been on terrorism and search operations during the past few months, which is the reason these dens have been growing. The gambling nests will be shut down and their owners will be arrested without discrimination,” the SP said.

Den operators believe that gamblers would always return whenever they have some money in their pockets to try their luck. They said it was evident that the gamblers, who frequently lose and never give up on their luck, have previously won large amounts. “That’s why gamblers develop a positive approach and keep on betting until they win,” a den operator said, adding that gamblers would not mind losing even five or more times, keeping their previous earnings in mind.

Sources said around 33 elite gambling dens were operating in the city, whose business touches the Rs 5 billion-a-month mark if cricket matches are being played.

“Some do it as a pastime because they have enough money to waste, while some get into it to prove that they are rich. The betting from some corners even mounts to Rs 20 billion during the One Day International cricket matches. These bets are recovered through online banking services and are termed as ‘White Transactions’ in the gambling world”, said the worker of an organized gambling mafia.

The people placing bets are respected people and their word is their guarantee in this business. To bet on a match is easy because a person just has to watch. And certain ‘tips’ about cricketers lure many gamblers, which are often proven wrong,” he said.

“I have been betting on cricket matches for many years and I have lost only a few times. I know its not something a person should be doing, but its just entertainment for me because the feeling that the outcome of the game could double my cash gets me excited,” said a regular gambler. He said his family did not know about the activity and “I am not ashamed of it either”. Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Shafiq Ahmed said constant attacks were being conducted on information received by the police and it would continue arresting people involved in the gambling business.