Bengaluru, Nov. 20 -- The state government is preparing to introduce a bill that would permit licensed online betting on horse-racing events. The legislation, which amends the Karnataka Race Courses Licensing Act of 1952, is scheduled to be placed before the legislature during the winter session beginning December 8 in Belagavi, senior officials said on Wednesday.

The proposal follows practices already in place at race clubs in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra and West Bengal, they added. According to officials, the amendments are intended to align Karnataka with "the current trend of expanding exposure to racing events," while creating a legal framework for online wagering in the state.

FInance department officials argued that horse ...