TOTALISATOR NOT AFFECTED.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17431, 17 April 1922, Page 11

TOTALISATOR NOT AFFECTED.

IF BOOKMAKERS DOME BACK. The Bating dubs hame nothing to alarm tbein in the proposal outlined in a petition now in circulation, U) legalise bookmakers to the end of better control of betting. The Racing Clubs' argument has been that the bookmaker competes with the totalizator and so reduces the Racing Clubs' revenue and the racing stakes. This point is answerable in that the Clubs would exact lees amounting to possibly £90,000 per annum from the bookmaker in return for permits t9 operate on courses. The Government would also derive a revenue of about £IOO,OOO yearly from licenses to bookmakers. At the. same time, the legalising of the bookmaker has weightier points in its favour. The. present Gaming Law has driven betting underground to a great extent, and it is there flourishing in spite of anything the police may do to hinder it. \

The reputable bookmaker has been driven out of his sphere of activity in defence of his reputation, and the field is open to all sorts of persona who infest every populous centre. The petition for the amendment of the new Gaming Law suggests, as a remedy, that persons approved by the Racing Conference and the police should be licensed , to operate on racecourses pnly, and in competition with the totalisator. This would not only give the Racing Clubs the revenue from permits before mentioned, but it would also dispose of the "secret" betting. This petition Is being freely circulated, and may be signed almost anywhere. (Advt.)