CAUTIOUS GAMBLERS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1931, Page 9

CAUTIOUS GAMBLERS

DEAUVILLE’S BAD SEASON BIG DROP IN RECEIPTS. I Rain and the economic crisis have combined to make tho past season one of the worst on record at Deauville, Franco. “I fear the gross receipts from gambling, restaurants and luxury amusements will be from 40 to 45 per cent, less than_ in normal seasons,” M. Andree, the casino “king,” said a few weeks ago. “Business is terrible,” he added. “I can console myself only with the thought that conditions must have been the same all over France. Some of tho casinos may have escaped the bad weather, but none of them could compete fairly against the taxes arid tho general ; state of world affairs. “The irony of it all is that here in Deauville we have had an increase of 12 per cent, iri attendance, and there has been no change in the class of our clientele. People this year 'simply will not spend. “When everything was rosy, they drank champagne and cock tails frequently. Now they get along for hours on mineral water. Fried potatoes are more popular than lobsters.

“The'ganibling fever is also tempered with .prudence. Even in moments where excitement runs high, fervent players place bets in hundreds, and not thousands of francs. They have been unable to leave their business worries behind. “Add to this complex tho fact that 50 out of GO days are rainy, and you will be able to understand the combination that no casino proprietor can beat. “The tax situation is a prominent evil, but at least it will be remedied when the Chamber of Deputies meets again. We now pay 75 per cent, on cagnotto (the pool), but we have been virtually assured that this rate will be reduced to GO per cent.”