BETTING EVIL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11830, 11 January 1933, Page 7

BETTING EVIL

grave social menace in BRITAIN. TIN HARE RACES AND \ TOTALISATOR CLUBS. .. ' ABOLITION RECOMMENDED. ( ILP.A. by Elec. Tel- Copyright) (Received Jan. 10, 7 p.tn.) LONDON, Jan. 10. The Royal Commission on Lotteries and Betting has issued an interim report which recommends that the operation of totalisators at greyhound tracks, arid totalisator clubs, whether for cash or credit,, should be ended as soon as possible. The report states that the toialisacor has given a powerful impetus to greyhound racing which is now operating on 130 tracks, on oh holding two to three night meetings weekly. Since the beginning of 1932, two hundred and seventy-hive totalisator clubs have come into existence, providing for a shilling membership, with a* daily facility for betting on horses or greyhounds. These have become a gray- social menace. There is a- fundamental difference between horse and greyhound racing, states the report. Parliament only approved of totalisators for horse race courses subject to portion of the receipts being devoted to horse breeding, which is a national industry of some importance. There is no corresponding object behind greyhounds. If the totalisator is sanctioned for greyhounds it must equally ho permitted-, for every other type of contest lending itself .to betting.