The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-07-14
FRIDAY, JULY IA, 1911.
Laws Against Gaming
Not Materially Changed.

The impression seems to have been
created that the act of the legislature
recently adjourned, which was designed
to put an end to race track gambling
in this state, has resulted in making
criminal certain forms of wagering
heretofore considered by many as in
nocent and legitimate and not pro-
hibited by law. For instance, many
have considered it legitimate and law
full to play at whist for prizes, to dis
pose of prizes by lottery or drawing, or
to play pool or billiards. the loser to
pay the expense of the cues and table,
and many other similar forms Of wager
In for small and inexpensive prizes.
The laws of Florida relating to bet
hing and wagering of recent years have
been stringent and broad. The fore
going enumeration of instances of petty
forms of wagering thought by many to
be entirely lawful, are but few of the
forms of wagering prohibited by the
laws of this state long before the en-
actment of the anti-race track gam
bling law.
For the information of The Journals
readers we print below an analysis of
the act of 1911 and of the heretofore
existing laws of this state relating to
betting and wagering. The act of 1911
makes it criminal to
l. Stake, bet or wager any money or
other thing of value upon the result of
any trial or contest of skill, speed or
mower of endurance of man or beast;
20. Receive in any manner whatso-
-. Nth IF %
staked, bet or wagered. or offered for
the purpose of being staked bet or
wagered by or for any other person
upon any such result;
g. Knowingly become the custodian
or depository of any money or other
thing of value so staked, bet or Wagered
upon any such result;
- Aid, assist or abet in any man
ner any such acts as are forbidden by
the act.
Prior laws make it criminal to
1. Keep, exercise or maintain a
gambling table or room;
2. To keep, exercise or maintain
gaming implements or apparatus:
3. To keep, exercise or maintain
house, booth, tent, shelter or other
: place for the purpose of gaming or
gambling;
A. To procure, suffer or permit any
person to play for money or other valu-
able thing at any game whatever,
whether heretofore prohibited or not,
in any place in which the person may
directly or indirectly have charge, con-
troll or mana cement, either exclusively
or with others
5. AS agent or owner to knowingly
rent to another a house, room, booth
tent or shelter or other place, by any
devise whatever, for money or other
things of value;
10 Nav or eneape in any game
at cards, keno. roulette, faro or othSl
game of chance, at any place, by any
, device whatever, for money or othel
thing of value.
+ Z. To set up, promote or conduc
any lottery for money or other thins
of value;
s. To dispose of any money or othe'
propertv of any kind whatever b!
means of any lottery;
Q. To conduct any lottery drawing
for the distribution of prizes by lot o
chance;
10. To sell or TO offer for sale, or t,
have in ones possession, lottery tickets
coupons, or any lottery wheel or de
vices, etc.
II. To set up, promote or play a
any game of chance by lot or with dice
cards. numbers, hazard or any othe
81 gambling device whatever for, or 70
the disposal of money or other thing O
value. or under the protest of SALE
gift or delivery thereof. or for an
right, share or interest therein.
will thus be seen that playin
cards for prizes, matching coins fo
coffee or for car fare, and all such di
versions were, technically, just a
much in violation of law before the re
cent act Of the legislature as they al
- now.
No one, however. so far as we know
has ever been arrested for any of thes
petty and merely technical infractior
of the law, and we do not presume thu
anyone ever will be.
The law now is no more stringen
except as to horse-racing, than 1t VIZ
before.