BETTING IN BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 133, 9 June 1927, Page 13

BETTING IN BRITAIN

TAXATION DISCUSSION

CASE FOR TOTALISATOR

(From "The Post's" Representative.) , LONDON, 4th May. ' A meeting of the Jockey Club was . held at Newmarket last week, when the report; from the committee which , has been appointed to consider the j eftect of the betting tax was presented . by the Earl of Lonsdale. After a full , discussion the following resolution was proposed by the stewards and accepted unanimously: "That the committee ap- ' pointed to inquire into the betting tax • be requested to institute without delay an inquiry into the means by which ; betting may best be made to contribute to the maintenance of sport, and to ! report to the club." '. The passing of this resolution has , again brought into prominence the problem of getting the totalisator and ; the bookmaker to work together. ' Major Ealph Glyn, M.P., for the ' Abingdon division of Berkshire, has called a meeting, at the House of i Commons, of members of Parliament within whose constituencies there are racing stables or stud farms. The number of trainers in the Abingdon divi- . sion is second only to that at Newmarket. Major Glyu recently held a meeting of representatives of the trainers, at which the position of the racing industry was considered with reference to . the betting tax, and it was tho unani- , mous wish of those present that everything possible should be done to institute the totalisator system as soon as possible. At the meeting of members, the totalisator system will bo explained, both from its operating aspect and ' from the legal point of view. ; ADVANTAGES OF TOTALISATOR. Issued with the notice convening the meeting is a memorandum regarding the totalisator. Briefly, it is stated . that the advantages which would ariso out of the adoption of tho totalisator on the English racecourses are that it provides the Government with asimple method of collecting a tax on betting at a small cost. It enables race clubs to participate in the turnover of betting, and thereby increase stakes, and also provides a fund for giving to the breeder _of the winner, and of the second and third horse in, important races, substantial premiums. In consequence of these larger stakes it limits the necessity of betting on the part of owners. Trainers would also benefit by their percentage of these increased stakes. Further,; it would enable executives to decrease entrance ' and acceptance fees. This would be of great advantage to small ownertrainers. , Other points in the memorandum are: ''It provides ' owners with a very simple method of betting, and also for backing their horses to be placed independently of actually winning a race. Under the scheme, bookmakers would continue to.operate. . . "Ther.e is no difficulty in operating the totalisator at small meetings, as there are portable totalisators which can be moved from place to place. Nor do questions of space present an insurmountable obstacle. With the present automatic system of totalisator there is no delay in either investing money or in collecting'winnings; also credit betting can be indulged in by making a cash deposit or arranging credit facilities, with the company or race club which operates tho totalisator.''