GAMING LAW A FAILURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3555, 2 May 1922, Page 6

GAMING LAW A FAILURE.

BOOKMAKERS MUST COME BACK. It is fairly well established now that the Gaming Law is a failure; it has been on trial, and has been found wanting. It favours the rich rather than the poor, and aids a State monopoly in betting. In the old days, the investor could put what money he liked on a race. The sportsman must now invest 10s. or in most cases £l, before he can “ back ” his fancy. Some there are who say that racing should be abolished altogether, and that betting should not he permitted on or off the racecourse. The answer to that is that betting is inherent in most of us, and that this trait will appear either in games, recivaton. or _ business. Whether one restrains oneself or not is a matter of personal clioire. A very reasonable solution to the present problem is now being circulated in the form of a petition, with, a special appeal to all sportsmen. The petition asks that the bookmaker be legalised—that is. that reputable persons approved by the Racing Conference and the Police be permitted to operate oil racecourses only. Mark that phrase “ R acecourses only.” If hotting is regulated so that bets may lie made on a racecourse only, it will mean the end of the whole pernicious system of underground betting. A race-goer will be able to make his bet in competition with the tpte. He will not have to spend 10s or £1 to “ back ” bis fancy if he cannot afford it. He will be able to have a day’s recreation and sport at a moderate cost. It is proposed that a license fee should be charged bookmakers, and this would bring the State an increase in revenue of £IOO,OOO per year. The admission of the bookmaker will in no way affect the racing clubs, but will, on the other hand, help to destroy the system of “secret” betting, which oven now must be more than a menace to the totalizator receipts. In addition to this, considerable revenue would be received by the racing clubs for permits allowing bookmakers to operate on the courses. The petition has been freely circulated, and may be signed almost anywhere. (5)