BETTING BILL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23058, 8 June 1938, Page 10

BETTING BILL

fflffi. HERBERT'S LATEST RACING WORLD STIRRED BOOKMAKERS AND PRESS SUGGESTED RESTRICTIONS [JEOM OTTR OWN CORRESPONDENT] , LONDON. May 14 English bookmakers are facetiously—but not, perhaps, altogether fearlessly f—laying long <• odds that Mr. A- P. Herbert, Independent M.P. for Oxford University, author, barrister-at-law, and a member of the staff of Punch, will not bring off a "double" in Parliament by following his divorce refonr triumph with his Betting and Book-, makers Bill. This bill, shortly to be read a second time, has disturbed the racing world of England. Generally speaking, it is admitted to be "good in parts," but it is also considered that it requires. very careful amendment in certain fieolions. Bookmakers, pool promoters,' the newspaper proprietors, and the public at large are all involved in the measuresDrastic Readjustments Involved If the bill passes in its present form, the whole vast racing industry will have to make drastic readjustments. In some respects the bill follows the Royal Commission's report on betting. . Its object is to do away with "certain abuses," to provide for the registration and regulation of bookmakers, and to limit public inducements to betting. It is proposed that no person shall conduct the business of a bookmaker unless he is registered, and except on a race track or at a registered office. The chief, officer of police in every police area would be required to keep a register of bookmakers, whose residences, or, registered offices, were situated in that area. Certificates of eligibility would be issued by the petty sessional Courts, and on presenting a certificate and paying a fee of ss, a bookmaker would be entitled to be registered by the chief officer of police. Except upon a race track or in a newspaper > not wholly or mainly devoted to racing matters, the publication of tips would be made unlawful* Regulation of Football Pools Except upon a race track the offer for sale of tips would also be unlawful, and "when any newspaper contains tips "or forecast of sporting events," this factsshall not bo advertised. It is further proposed that football pools shall cease to exist in their present fona, and their promoters shall be called upon to conduct the business as bookmakers on a cash basis at fixed odds. More than £500,000 was spent in advertising football pools in 1937-38, and £50,000 was spent by football tipsters in advertising. It is proposed that registered bookmakers shall be permitted to carry on their business by personal dealings or likewise; on any race track, by post, telephone or telegram, but not otherwise; or at an office registered as a cash bet deposit office, where a "letterbox attached to an exterior wall of the office or of the building in which such office is situated," may be utilised for receiving these cash bets. It i 3 stipulated that the office at which bets are to be deposited should be not within 50 yards of a church, chapel, school or employment exchange.