MONEY-MAKING CLUBS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20420, 23 November 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

MONEY-MAKING CLUBS.

GAMBLING DENS IN LONDON.

MEMBERS CAREFULLY CHOSEN.

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 cine 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 t>f the raid, show how popular these club 3 are. Most of them are in small and unpretentious buildings down small side streets. The members arc nearly' all of the working classes —many of them obviously on the dole—though one or two cater for the City man and (-.lie young office, worker anxious for a flutter.

The clubs are closely guarded. 'A press representative was taken by a rriember to one in a small turning off Aldersgate Street. Before he was allowed in the member had. to answer searching questions as to his name and business. At the entrance was a large room partitioned off into three smaller divisions. In the first, two men, obviously bookmakers, were taking bets over » counter and entering them in a book. A tape machine supplied the results of the races at two meetings, and payingout was done as the results came through.

In tho next room faro and cliemin-de-fer were in progress, and 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 whisky-and-sodas, and this., too, was well patronised. The proprietor of this particular club confessed that it was a profitable business' and the risk comparatively small. The members are carefully chosen.