Omaha daily bee., 1914-04-26
BOOKMAKING IS LOCALIZED
German Authorities Capitulste to
Gaming Instinct
GOVERNMENT TO SHARE PROFIT
six Per cent VIII ne Charged on
All Bets Entered and Graduated
Tax Additional will ne
Assessed on odds.

BERLIN April &-The German au-
thorities have again cspitulsted to what
they term the ineradicsble gaming in
stinct Of the average person" After con-
tinued and vain attempts to put an end
TO promlscuous betting on horse races,
which involves a sum yearly estimated
at between Sl50OOoOo0 and 500, ,OO0,O OOo. they
have decided to license bookmaking In
an effort to secure for the state a per-
centage OF this sum. 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. II is hoped TO have 1t become
effective in time for the Baden Baden
races next August
Heretofore the only form OF betting
sanctioned by law has been by means
OF the pari-mutuel mAtching This, how
ever. was available only to persons able
70 visit the racetracks. The result Is
that a vast army OF bookmakers. esti-
mated at 6Ooo. ply their business in de-
fiance Of the law. In addition every
barbershop and thousands OF cafes and
similar resorts harbor their handbook
men.
number OF business places where waEers
can be laid on horse races AZ over 10000.
Prosecutions for bookmaking Increased
from Loo in 1906 10 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 TO remedy
against dishonest handbook men or book
makers who refuse 20 settle winning
wagers
The number NJ licensed bookmakers is
not fixed in the new measure, but II is
underatood that the government con-
templates licenses for about fifty. scat
tered throughout the empire. each OF
which will be entitled TO establish branch
offices TO meet the demand Notwith-
standing rigorous provisions against H.
iicit betting. punishlng both bookmaker
and bettor uhe latter with fines up TO
$500. experts believe that Illicit books
will continue TO flourish not only be-
cause the wRge-earners. clerks and
small-salaried men who today furnish
the bulk Of the handbook custom cannot
afford the minimum stake OF si2, but he
cause the heavy taxation Of the licensed
bookmakern win enable the handbook
men to offer far better odds
Since per cent OF every bet entered
viii 90 70 the government as an initial
tax. and winning bets VIII be muicted
with an additional tax Of from per cent
ON bets at odds Of 20 ! or less. up "a
% per cent on the long shot OF 20 10 OF
better, the man who plays a heavily
backed. odds-on favorite. say at TO s
may risk a possible fine rather than IN,
oentain loss OF nearly half OF his scants
winnings. To hackers OF 100 to / out
siders the prospective surrender OF som'
SIS Of 500 win will be equally deter
rent
other Betting Prohibited.
Limiting authorized gambling under thiI
law to horse racing. the government II
its Introduction 10 the bill pronouncel
against betting on foot bail and othe
sports popular with the middle an
lower classes" 10 save them from tn
gambling contaglon. Officers and soldier
are also elaascd IN the undesirable cate
CORY, bookmakers being forbidden to &C
cept bets from members OF the mllitar'
forces. and betting on races with gentle
mer Jockeys IL also prohibited.
An important provision OF the proposes
law makes winning waEers coliectible a
law. provided they are each cash wagers
This. II il believed, viii greatly reduc
the number Of dishonest bookmakers. Tn
maximum penalty for unlicensed book
making is TO be two years Imprisonment
and $500 fine. as against six months an
stes. at present. Bettors dealing with un
licensed bookmakers also make them
selves liable 10 Imprisonment and fine
and 20 the loss OF ali sums wagerec
which will he confiscated by the stat,
The police may forbid the publishing q
tips and form sheets.
The government estimates that the ne'
Law will produce at least sSO00,OO0 yearl,
OF which s2OooO0o viii go TO tho state
where the races in question are held. I
be devoted 10 the encouraging OF hors
breeding. and N.ooo.eo0 TO the feeders
treabury. Despite the reduction of III
tax on pari-mutuel takingE. Il IL not b.
lieved that returns win be below II
present figures. which are approximate
100000 yearly. since betting through n
machines is TO be permitted. with n
vtrictions. on races outside German,
under the existing law. the machines ma
A.. .r.,lo,..a only Tor danaaaftc ,nraa