London Gambling Hells.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 10, 5 March 1913, Page 35

London Gambling Hells.

The London police authorities are, at times, tremendously energetic in their efforts to combat the gambling evil in the metropolis, but their efforts are spasmodic. and it is questionable whether, at the present time, there is not more gambling at baccarat, ehemin-de-fer, bridge, and other games, than in any other city in the world. In France the State, accepting the facts of life, recognises that men will always gamble, permits baccarat and ehemin-de-fer to be played in “ clubs ” under certain conditions. and takes 10 per cent, of the proceeds for the relief of the poor. In England these games are played " under the nose," with no supervision whatever, and in many eases the proprietors of the "clubs’ add considerably to what might be called their legitimate games by gross cheating. There are scores of secret gambling hells in the metropolis—chiefly in the West End—where thousands of pounds change hands every day-, anil dozens of young men are being ruined every week, to say nothing of women who bring their husbands to grief through giving way to the gaming fever. Probably, however, even if the French system were adopted, and duly licensed gambling clubs under State supervision were added to our social institutions, secret gambling dens would continue to exist, for, with a little luck, they offer a quick and easy road to fortune for their proprietors, and for every man and woman who would not hesitate to frequent a public gaining house, there are scores who would only be too glad to play, always provided they could do it in secret.

At the present time the London police are waging bitter war against these hole-and-corner gambling dens, but they- do not appear to be meeting with a great deal of success. The people who run these shows are very wily birds. “ up to ” pretty nearly every move on the board where police efforts to trap them are concerned. The difficulties of the police have always been great, and they have been made much greater by a dodge to which many- of the gambling hell" runners have recently resorted. It is to frequently shift their “ saloons ’’ from one place to another. All that they require is a decently furnished Hat, or even a single room, a hamper of provisions, and the paraphernalia of play. They possess the last-named, and the two preceding items are very easily come at in the AV est End of London, providing you know the ropes, and are readv to' pay the price. In and around the Mayfair district there are scores and scores of houses leased by retired butlers and the like, who make their living by letting furnished Hats and rooms. At any time of the year the owners of a large number oi these houses are lamenting the fact that they have a suite or a room unlet, and to the great majority the oiler of. perhaps. £2O or £25 for the use ot their unlet rooms for perhaps only a few hours, or ±5O or £OO for a week, is a temptation too strong to be resisted. So to-day. instead of sitting down in one place the gambling hell runner flits about.. " here to-day, gone to-morrow,” and only his “jackals,” his trusted patrons, and those whom they may indicate as likely patrons, know where they can find him on any given day. They ’are. of course, duly advised of the new address, and this is done chiefly by telegraph or tele phone, only an hour or so before the “ proprietor ” is ready for his “ customers.” By these means the police are being outwitted, and many a earefullyplanned raid has resulted in the carefullyguarded covert being drawn blank. The police occasionally effect a capture, but as a rule they find themselves in the same boat as the lady- of the story, who complained that when she tried to “swat" the blue bottle she only succeeded in “ hitting the place where it had been.” According to the London “ Express" and other papers which have been spur ring the police on to make a clean sweep of these secret gambling dims, the profits of their proprietors are enormous. It is said that one individual who opened a ehemin-de fer “club” in Mayfair at the biginning of September, admits that he has made a clear profit of over £20,000, and that he is, in addition, the proud possessor of cheques (which may or may not one day be met) to the value of half as much again.