The Champions Trophy final match between India and New Zealand is set to thrill cricket enthusiasts on Sunday. However, bookies are set to cash in on the cricket craze coupled with tourism, especially bookies in Gujarat are eyeing huge benefits, as per reports. 

Around two dozen top bookmakers from Gujarat have already reached Dubai, if reports are to be believed, while about 150 of them are said to be operating from Goa. The competition among bookies to attract betting business has intensified so much that they are being offered three-day free casino packages, airfare, and other luxurious perks, provided they place bets worth crores on Sunday.  

Top bookies from Gujarat in Dubai

To ensure maximum betting business during  the Champions Trophy final, the top three bookmakers from Gujarat are said to have facilitated a betting tourism experience for the state’s leading two dozen bookmakers in Dubai.

Apart from luxurious stays, food, and drinks, they have also provided exclusive box tickets worth ₹2.25 lakh to ₹3 lakh, allowing them to watch the live match while managing betting transactions. 

According to sources from the betting market, many of Gujarat’s top bookies have been in Dubai since the India-Pakistan match. After the final match concludes today, these major kingpins will handle financial settlements over the next 15 days before returning gradually.  

During India’s matches in the Champions Trophy, betting operations were reportedly managed from Dubai. However, according to the arrangements made by Dubai-based bookies, around 150 bookies from Gujarat were relocated to Goa for the semi-final and final matches. 

These individuals were provided with airfare, accommodation until Monday, casino access, and car services. Sources from the betting market reveal that since the semi-finals, bookies from Gujarat have been having a whale of a time in Goa, indulging in fine dining and entertainment. However, from Sunday morning, bookies and their agents from Ahmedabad and north Gujarat will be stationed in private villas, setting up their betting networks.  

Dubai: centrestage for betting?

According to top bookmaker sources, Dubai has become the centre for betting operations for Gujarat and Indian bookies over the past few years. 

India is tipped as the favourite to win the Champions Trophy. The odds for India’s victory stand at ₹44, whereas for a loss, the odds are ₹46. If someone places a ₹100 bet on India and they win, they receive ₹144, whereas if India loses, they lose ₹100. 

On the other hand, the odds for New Zealand’s victory are ₹2.25. Additionally, fancy bets include predictions such as 55-57 runs in the first 10 overs, India’s first wicket falling at 33 runs, and New Zealand’s first wicket falling at 63 runs. Other bets include Gill scoring 40-42 runs, Rohit Sharma hitting 4-5 boundaries, 11-12 sixes across both innings, and a total of 16 wickets in the match.  

Ahmedabad’s cafés offering match screening

Meanwhile, for the Champions Trophy final, Ahmedabad’s roads and public spots are expected to be relatively empty on Sunday evening. Cricket fans will gather in groups at cafés, banquet halls, and farmhouses to watch the match on big screens. More than two dozen cafés and banquets in the city have organised live match screening- events with dinner, charging between ₹2,000 and ₹5,000 per person. Additionally, several farmhouses in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar will host private screenings for groups of friends, making for an exciting cricket-filled evening.