Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-04-14
RACE TRACK
Betting NOW
FOR GERMANY
[By Latest MALL

have again Capitulatcd TO what the term
the ineradicable gaming instinct Of
the average person. After continued
and vain attempts to put an end to
prOmisCuOus betting on horse races.
which involves a sum yearly esti-
mated at between $50, O0O, 900 tAd
5000, 900 900 they have decided to H.
Cense bOOkmaking in an effort to s.
cure for the state a percentage Of this
sum. A measure to this end, ALREADY
reported briefly by cable, has been
adopted by the federal council and
Is now awaiting the action of the
Reichstag. 1t is hoped to have it be-
come effective in time for the Baden
Raden races next August.
Heretofore the only form of betting
sanctioned by law has been by means
Of the pari-mutuel machine. This,
however, was available only to per-
sons able to visit the race tracks. The
result is that a vast army of book
makers, estimated at 5000, ply their
business in defiance OF the law In
addition every barbershOp and thou
sands of cafes and similar resorts,
harbor their handbook men.
Competent authorities estimate the
number of business places where
wagers can be laid on horse races at
over 100000. Prosecutions for book
making increased from 1900 in 1906 to
5000 in 1912. For the most part they
resulted in trivial fines or short Jail
sentences, and the business went
ahead just the same. The bettor, too,
is outside the law, and has no rem
edy against dishonest handbook men
or bookmakers who refuse to settle
winning wagers.
The number of licensed bookmakers
Is not fixed in the new measure but
it is understood that the government
contemplates licenses for about SO,
scattered throughout the empire, each
of which will be entitled to establish
branch Offices to meet the demand
Notwithstanding rigorous provisions
against illicit betting, furnishing both
bookmaker and bettor (the latter with
fines up to $3.50. experts believe that
Illicit books will continue to flourish,
not only because the wage-earners,
clerks and small-salaried men who to-
day furnish the bulk of the handbook
custom cannot afford the minimum
stake. of SIP but because the heavy
taxation of the licensed bookmakers
will enable the handbook men to offer
far better odds.
Since six per cent of every bet en-
tered will go to the government as an
initial tax, and winning bets will be
mulcted for an additional tax of
from six per cent, on bets at odds of
2 to l or less, up to 90 per cent on
the long shot of 20 to 1 or better, the
man who plays heavily backed, odds
on favorite, say at to 5, may risk
possible fine rather than the certain
loss of nearly half Of his scanty win
nings. To hackers of 100 to l outsid-
ers the prospective surrender of some
$25 of a 500 win will be equally de-
terrent.
Limiting authorized gambling under
this law to horse racing, the govern
ment in its introduction to the bill
pronounced against betting on foot
ball and other sports popular with the
middle and lower classes" to save
them from the gambling contagion OF.
the undesirable category, bookmakers
being forbidden to accept bets from
members of the military forces, and
betting on races with gentlemen joe
keys is also prohibited.
An important provision OF the pro-
posed law makes winning wagers col
1eCtible at law, provided they are each
cash wagers. This, it is believed. will
greatly reduce the number of diShOn.
est bOokmakers. The maximum pen.
atty for unlicensed bookmaking is to
be two years imprisonment and $500
fine, as against six months and 1925
at present. BettOrs dealing with unli- !
censed bOOkmakers also make them |
selves liable to Imprisonment and fine, |
and to the loss of all sums wagered |
which will be COnfiscated by tho
state, The police may forbid the pub !
fishing Of tips and form sheets
The government estimates that the |
lew law will produce at least Sc ,000,-
600 yearly, of which $4,000. 900 Will g
TO the states where the races in cues
ton are held, to be devoted to the en-
enlargement of horse-bree.l ing Vui !
$4,000 600 to te federal treasury. De |
spite the reduction Of the tax on pari- |
mutuel takings, it is not believed tina, |
! eturns will be below the present zig .
ures, which are approximately $3.0OO.- |
900 yearly. since betting through the
machines is to be permitted. with re.
sUriCtiOnS, on races outside Germany. |
Under the existing law. the machines |
may be employed only for domestic
races
Details of he Yachting events to be 3