The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-30 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

THE BETTING-HOUSE BILL.

The Bill for the Suppression of Betting-houses will
come into operation on Thursday next. The principal
list proprietors have, however, anticipated its purpose,
and have displayed an emulous alacrity in relinquish-
ing—for the nonce, perhaps—their profitable employ-
ment. Almost the entire range of shops on the
south side of Cranbourne-street is closed, and Far-
ringdon-street [presents at frequent intervals patches
of a blank desolation. This general and simultaneous
closing movement shows the hollowness and worthless-
ness of the many-suggested expedients by which the law
may be rendered inoperative, and the list-business
maintained on the old system. The most reck-
less adventurer will scarcely dare adopt them even
in a modified form. The bill pronounces bet-
ting-houses to be " common nuisances, and contrary
to law," and provides most severe and effectual measures
for their suppression. Still various interpretations have
been put upon this act, and a studied determination has
seemingly been evinced to place a construction upon it,
contrary to plain reason and common sense. Any person
who devotes five minutes to an impartial perusal of its
clauses, will discover its adaptibility to the purpose of
the Legislature, and it is now useless to defend or con-
demn the injustice or inconsistencies of the measure.
The bill, perhaps, bears with undeserved severity on a
large and respectable class of people, and some of its
clauses may be arbitrary and oppressive, but some such
measure was unquestionably required to prevent that
" demoralisation of improvident persons" which was in-
disputably the tendency of certain betting-offices, and
for which it was principally enacted.
"Lists" supplied needy adventurers with easy means
and ready facilites for deceiving and robbing the public,
and supported in idleness and dissipation crowds of
worthless characters. These fellows brought disgrace
and odium on the entire body of list-men, many of whom
are respectable members of society, benevolent in their
actions, and honourable in their dealings. Time will,
perhaps, show that they will have cause for congratula-
tion in the passing of the Betting House Bill.
This " odious measure " will neither check nor divert
the legitimate sources of speculation. Opinions on this
subject, however, widely differ ; many persons main-
taining that it will be illegal to open subscription rooms
for the purpose of betting. But if this conclusion be
sound, then will Tattersall's and the London Club be
illegal, and must be pronounced "common nuisances,
and contrary to Law." But neither the spirit nor
the letter of the law supports this conclusion ; in
fact, the whole intent and purpose of the bill appears
me to be to prevent the receiving indiscriminately from
all sorts of people, " either directly or indirectly, of any
money, or valuable thing, as a deposit on any bet, on
condition of paying any sum of money, or other valuable
thing, on the happening of any event or contingency of,
or relating to, a horse-race, or any other race, or
any fight, game, sport, or exercise, or as, or for, the
consideration for any assurance, undertaking, promise,
or agreement, express or implied, to pay or give there-
after, any money or valuable thing, on any such event
or contingency." To assert that the act extends further
would be preposterous ; it does not make betting illegal,
and therefore it has no power to prevent any number of
persons from assembling and betting among themselves.
Indeed, until the late act of Victoria (sec. 8 and 9 Vict.,
o. 109, B. 15), wagers above a certain amount were de-
clared to be illegal by statute ; now, however, the ille-
gality no longer exists, and, therefore, betting on a race
may now be practised to any extent without any penalty
being incurred.
Nov. 29. A FRESH MAN.