Page 6 Advertisements Column 6

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 91, 18 April 1922, Page 6

j GAMING LAW A FAILURE.

BOOKMAKERS MUST COME BACK. It is fairly well established now that the Gaming Law is a failirre;. it has been on trial and has been found wanting. It favours the rich rather than the poor, and aids a State monopoly in betting. In the old days, the investor could put what money he liked on a race. The sportsman must now invest 10/ or in most cases £1, before he can "back" hi_ fancy. Some there are who say that racing should he abolished altogether and that betting should not be permitted on or off the racecourse. The answer to that is that betting is inherent in most "of us, and that this trait will appear either in games, recreation, or business. Whether one restrains oneself or not is a matter of personal choice. A very reasonable solution to the present problem is now being circulated in the form of a petition _.th a special appeal to all sportsmen. The petition asks that the bookmaker be legalised.. That is, thit reputable persons approved by the Racing Conference and the Police, be permitted to operate on racecourses only. Mark that phrase "Racecourses only-" If hetting is regulated so that bets may be made on a racecourse only, it will mean the end of the whole pernicious system of underground betting. A racegoer will be able to make his bet in competition with the tote. He will not have to spend 10/ or £1 to "back" his fancy if he cannot afford it. He will be able to have a day's recreation and sport at a moderate cost. It is propo?ed that a license f°e should be charjrcd bookmaker?, and this would brin_- the State an increase in revenue of £100,000 per year. The admission of the bookmaker will in no wav affect the Racing Clubs, but will, on the other hand, help to destroy the system of "secret" betting, which even now must be more than a menace to the totalizator receipts. In addition to this, considerable revenue would be received by the Racing Ciub_ for permits allowing bookmakers to op-rate on the courses.

' The petition has bee., freely circulated and may be signed almost everywhere, f Ad.) i ■ ._jg