GAMBLING DENS IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 75, 21 December 1929, Page 33

GAMBLING DENS IN LONDON

Within the few square miles of the boundaries of the 'city of London there are between 30 and 40 secret gambling clubs, all with large membership and open every week-day of the year. The raid of one of the clubs by the police and the taking to court of some 70 members, all of whom were in the building at the 'time of the raid, show how popular these clubs are. Most of them are in small and unpretenitous buildings down small side streets. The members are nearly all of the working classes—many of them obviously on the dole — though one or two cater for the city man and the young office worker anxious for a flutter

The clubs are closely guarded. A press representative was taken by a member to one in a small turning off Aldersgate Street. Before he was allowed in the member had to. answer searching ques-

tions as to his name and business. At the entrance was a large room partitioned off into three smaller divisions. In the first, two meu, obviously bookmakers, were taking bets over a counter and entering them in a book. A tape machine supplied the result? of the vaces at two meetings, and paying-out was done as the results came through. In the next room faro and chemin-de-fer were in progress, iwid round the table were gathered a number of men, most of whom were Jews. Stakes were not very high, but silver was changing hands freely. . The third room was a bar serving only beer and wbisky-und-sodns. and this. too. was well patronised. The proprietor of this particular chib confessed that it was a profitable business, apt] the risk comparatively small. The members are carefully chosen.