RECKLESS GAMBLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

RECKLESS GAMBLERS.

LOSSES IN CASINOS.

ENGLISH ■ [VISITORS' ILL-LUCK

Gambling to an alarming and often disastrous extent has lately been carried on by English visitors to Le Touquct and other Continental resorts along the French coast. Every 'week the British Consul at Boulogne receives applications for loans by those who are stranded and unable to pay their hotel bills. Unlike Monte Carlo, the casino authorities will accept no responsibility for luckless visitors. Most of the players are English, many of whom can ill afford to lose money. Losses amounting to thousands of pounds in a single evening are common- The Casino de la Foret .at Le Touquet last year made nearly five million francs profit. Casinos are surprisingly, obliging to their English, clients. The cashier will willingly change cheques for almost any amount for unknown visitors.. OneEnglish visitor, having lost £IOOO at Ostcnd, hired a.motor-car at, midnight and drove the fifty miles to Le Touquet, arriving while play in the baccarat room's was at its height,. Without question, the casino not only paid . the driver his hire fee but also advanced the newcomer £4OO to cnablo him to play. He lost everything, arid returned to England a ruined man. His cheques to tho casino were not.met, with tlio result that an action was started, and ho became bankrupt. Tho inexpensive journey from London makes it possible for tho average citizen to spend a Week-end at Le Touquet at small cost. This resort is less than three hours from London, and a return ticket can be bought for"a little more than two pounds. Day tickets cost considerably less. '>