The Indiana State sentinel., 1874-02-10
"BUNKO 4"
TRICKS THAT ARE VAIN.


THE WAYS OF "BUNKo" AND "KENo''-THE
PLEASURES AND PROFITS, AND HOW THEY
ARE MADE.
The Chicago Tribune in an interesting arti-
Gle on the various games of gamblers says
1.-THE great beauty of Bunko is the uner-
ling certainty of its results. 1t is the only
sure game one can play. 1t is an excellent
game for young man whois taking his first
lessons in gambling. 1t possesses the pecul-
lar features requisite for his absolute fascina-
ton for time, and its results are a perfect
certainty. One may know what to expect
beforehand. He may expect to lose his
money with astonishing regularity. No
heart-rending disappointments in this res
pect have ever been known. Therefore,
Bunko is a good game to begin with. Our
readers have frequently read of this or that
countryman's exploits at Bunko, but we
challenge them to cite an instance where the
gentleman from the rural districts was
thereby enriched, either in funds or animal
spirits. There has been a truly re-
marksble similarity in Bunko ex-
periences. 1t is, to come to sthe point, one
of the most impudent and barefaced traps
ever set tor a greenhorn, and man who
would fall into it almost deserves to lose his
money, for it is his eagerness to get some-
thing for nothing that leads him on. He
fancies he sees splendid chance to get q
large return on q small investment with no
risk Of loss, and accordingly he bites at the
tempting bait. Many attempts have been
made to describe the Bunko process, but all
have tallen short of accuracy by reason of
lack of correct Information. Those who
have been "bunkoed" never can tell just
how it was done,-the operation is so rapid
and soon over,-while the parties who share
NJ, Ia fsha NJ to int
THE APPARATUS
consists of cloth painted into forty-eight
squares similar to a checker-board and
dice box containing dice. This Is what they
do with the tools: A Bunko-roper spots
greenhorn, and, by degrees, makes his ac-
quaintance; invites him to drink, or to eat
an oyster-stew, or TO play game of bill
lizards, as the case may be; in paying for the
drinks or billiards he pulls out with his
loose change a lottery ticket; is surprised;
had forgotten that he had it; must go
and see what it has drawn; asks the victim
to gas along; the lottery "agent's" office is
reached IL has sign, real estate" on the
i door, and maps on the walls inside; agent
looks over book fuA CT figures; finds that
the ticket has won $40 in gold, or $3.50 less
his commission. The roper suggests that
they have a private drawing for the odd
change; agent consents, and produces the
bunko paraphernalia; roper explains the
scheme in an undertone to the greenhorn;
sure thing; no chance 10 lose; merely done
in connection with the lottery business to
help attract custom: he can see for himself !;
greenhorn sees it and wants some of it; the
amount is small, and the scheme inviting;
produces 81. 60, and is to share the winnings.
Such are the usual preliminaries,
with variations according to circum-
stances. Then the plucking process
commences. The forty eight squares on the
cloth contain figures to correspond with the
various combinations of figures which can be
thrown with eight dice. A small proportion
of the squares contain the amount of a prize
two for one, four for one, &C.; most Of the
4 other squares are marked "B," meaning
Bunko, and a very few are blanks. The rule
is. If a figure with q prize Is thrown, the
thrower gets from two to four times bis
money back; if "B." figure is thrown he
does not lose, but must
"REPREsENT" HIS MONEY
that is, duplicate it, no matter how large the
sum becomes; il blank is thrown, he loses
all, but as the blanks are very few. and are
numbered with almost impossible throws,
such as 8 and As. there seems to be small
chance of losing To make it perfectly fair,
the victim is allowed to throw for himself
but the roper stands by, and. by means OF
rapid counting, with an occasional tumble OF
. die, he takes good care that the throw
/ shall be a "Bunko" figure. He
2 with which to represent" and the victim
can do no less than come down with his
/ money, especially as it is understood that
his winnings shall be correspondingly in
creased. When he has represented" until
( he Is either Disguised or out of money-tht
e Indications cf which are carefully watched
) for-they manage to count him having
? thrown blank, and that ends it. His
' friend, the roper, Is awtully cut up about it
|; and goes off with him, lamenting that it wa
Q their beastly luck to throw that losing mum
!. ber. but soon manages to slip away, and re
3 turns to claim his share of the plunder.-
Q Such is Bunko. and the only wonder is tina
there are fools enough to get swindled by it
e Tt is probable that the Bunko-men nave seer
y their best days in Chicago, as the superin
i tendent of police has given notice that, upoi
o recurrence OF a well-founded complaint, h
s will run every Bunko roper out of town.
= He should keep his word by all means.
KENO.
i Keno originated among the Germans, who
!, call it lotto, and the children play it at hom
e for amusement merely. Its application as
s means of public gaming for moneyis a pure
e ly Yankee affair, though il was a favorit
y among French Louisianians, and the pecu
= liar phrases and exclamations which at
l. tach to the game have also been supple
,r by the Anglo-Saxon. The word "Lotto
'r has no destructive significance, but it Nigh
le well be adopted on account of its fitness
r. the facts pertaining to keno, which is onl
RS PLAYED by a " lotto" fools. 1t is purely
n game of chance. The result is not coverne
Of in the slightest degree by the exercise
=. skill or judgment, and there is no advaI
a tage in capital, as in many other game
We The more capital man plays against ker
Id the more he loses The game is playe
to e without the aid of cards or elaborate par
!" phernalia. All that is requisite is hollo
wooden globe, in which are placs
ninety small ivory balls the size
q nlsrblees numbered from ono