The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-05

NO O4hV hss8 OosAESSs
To those unfamiliar with the ways of
the under world, certain distinctions
which prevail there viii appear meaning
less. One Of these relates to public gam
bling, and marks the Hire between games
Of chance which are called Legitimate"
and those that are outlawed everywhere
except IN the most reckless communities.
even where offences against the law are
licensed or winked at. The "sure thing"
game is customarily forbidden where any
law At all outside Of that of the mining
camp prevails.
All gambling games conducted In re-
sorts provided for them carry a certain
percentage against the player. That is
to say, when II appears to him that the
chances Of his winning or losing are even
ly balanced. they are not SO really. The
majority Of chances are against him.
There must be this odds in favor of the
proprietor, else there would be no object
In maintaining gaming places. with their
expensive paraphernslfa. A comparative
iy small percentage will accumulate
large sum Of money for the one in whose
favor II operates. But new sanss are In
vented and introduced constantly. in
which the chance that the playe. will win
Il so far reduced that he IL at a tremen-
dous disadvantage. These are called the
sure thing games; and they mn In at
varied intervals the space between an
even chance and plair robbery.
An article in our local columns this
morning shows TO what an extent these
swindies are prevalent in Seattle. II II
only one phase OF the turning over OF the
city to its lawless elements. And there
can be but one opinion about It. For even
those who believe In the federation Of
public gaming places, as inevitable Incl
dents Of city life. have no word OF defence
for the skin game and the sure thing.
They are customarily tabooed in cities
conducted on "wide-open" plan, and
appear only when the last restraints have
been relaxed In obedience TO some power
full motive.
Proper to be ciassed with these devices.
and really more demoralizing in their ef-
fects, are the slot machines which pay
cash instead Of merchandise to the win
ner They are public gambling devices.
but they are scattered everywhere. The
player does not need 20 visit a disrepu-
table resort to ind them. They appeal
to him In saloon and hotel The man who
would be ashamed or afraid to visit
gambling den. the young boy. the clerk
who makes his fearful venture. perhaps
with another's money. may find these in
struments In the midst Of perfectly repu-
table associations. And they certainly
deserve to be ciassed with the ~sure
thing games: because II there Is any
chance at all for the player OF the cash
paying slot machine 20 win. Il IL so small
that nobody has ever figured II out.
As we have said, these are not mat
tiers that distinguish liberal OF even
a "wide-open" administration. Most cit
les OF the country that look with toier-
ance upon certain things that strict mo-
raiEtys would forbid have no ienience for
the ''snre thing" game. Their police
would throw our auy body who attempted
TO put a stud poker outfit in a gambling
resort. or a cash slot machine thers or
anywhere else. In Seattle Il 10 different
But that Is because. for the present. the
agencies Of siee have an absolutely free
hand.
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