The Gaming Bill.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19153, 9 November 1927, Page 10

The Gaming Bill.

I There was very little indeed in the debate on the Gaming Bill on Monday night to distinguish it from the debates in previous sessions. Nor was anything said —indeed, nothing could be said —by the opponents of the Bill that makes it necessary to add or subtract anything from the ease for it as presented in our own columns and elsewhere. The proposal that the newspapers shall be allowed to print the dividends on races is merely a proposal to remove a restriction which from every point of view is imbecile, and which nobody has ever attempted to defend without being absurd. The two other proposals in the Bill —that racing clubs shall be free to work a " double" totalisator and that the public shall be allowed to telegraph their totalisator investments —aim only at diverting into legal channels the betting that is at present done with the bookmakers. Nothing in the Bill will make even likely any increase in the volume of betting on races. This is thoroughly well known to the bookmakers and their friends—for the bookmakers have friends in the House—and it is well known to everyone who has any real knowledge of racing. The opposition to the Bill comes from three sections: the bookmaker party, the well-meaning but sadly illinformed Puritans who do not understand the subject, and a small group of disgruntled enemies of the Racing Conference. It is useless to attempt to reason with these opponents of what the Government knows is a wholesome and useful Bill, but it may • not be wasted effort to ask the Government to realise that it has a duty in this matter. Its duty is to take up Sir George Hunter's Bill and make it a Government measure. Some of Mr Coates's colleagues and some of his supporters would perhaps be uneasy if the Prime Minister were to do this: they would fear to incur the responsibility for " increasing the facilities for "gambling." They would show more courage, and certainly more honesty (knowing that such a reproach was unfounded and could be repelled), if they made up their minds not to be intimidated by the people who would cover our whole social life with a network of prohibitions.