Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1914-04-11

PtA SOhb dDlt w Ntpil lltC ihSNAl a(hhs
The result is that a vast army of
bookmakers, Estimated at 5000, ply
their business in defiance Of the law
In addition every barber shop and
thousands of cafes and similar re-
sorts 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
bookmaking increased from 1900 In
1906 TO 5000 in 1912 or the most
part they resulted in trivial fines or
short jail sentences. and the business
went ahead just the same. The bet
tor, too. Is outside the law. and has
no remedy against dishonest hand
book men or bookmakers who refuse
to settle winning wagers
The number of licensed bookmak
ers is not fixed in the new measure
but 1t is understood that the govern
ment contemplates licenses for about
fifty, scattered throughout the EN-
pire, each of which viii be entitled
TO establish branch offices to meet
the demand Notwithstanding rigor-
GUS provisions against Illicit betting,
punishing both bookmaker and bettor
tthe latter with fines up to S250)
experts believe that Illicit books viii
continue to flourish. not only because
the wage earners. clerks and small
salaried men who today furnish the
afford the minimum stake OF $l2, but
because the heavy taxation of the
I licensed bookmakers will enable the
handbook men to offer far better
odds
Since per cent OF every bet en-
tered will go to the government as
an initial tax. and winning bets will
be mulcted with an additional tax OF
/ from 6 per cent, on bets at odds OF
/ two to one or less. up to 20 per cent
on the long shot of twenty to one
or better the man who plays a
/ heavily backed. odds-on favorite, say
at TO s, may risk a possible fine
rather than the certain loss of nearly
half OF his scanty winnings To
hackers OF hundred to one outsiders
the prospective surrender of some
$25 of 500 win win be equally de
+ teFrent
Limiting authorized gambling un.
der this law to horse racing, the gov
ernment in its introduction to the
bill pronounced against betting on
football and other sports popular
with the middle and lower classes. .
10 save them from the gambling con
tagion. Officers and soldiers are also
classed in the undesirable category
bookmakers being forbidden to ac-
eept bets from members OF the mill
tary forces. and betting on races
with gentlemen jockeys is also pro
hibited
An important provision Of the pro.
posed law makes winning wagers
collectible at law, provided tey are
each cash wagers. This. it is be-
lieyed, will greatly reduce the mum
Der of dishonest bookmakers. The
maximum penalty for unlicensed
bookmaking is to be two years i'm
prisonment and $500 fine, as
against six months and SIPS at pres.
ent. Bettors dealing with unlicensed
liable TO imprisonment and fine, and
TO the loss of all sums wagered
which will he confiscated by the
state. The police may forbid the
publishing of tips and form sheets
The government estimates that the
} new law win produce at least $4,000,
600 yearly. of which $2,0000OO vii
go to the states where the races IL
, question are held, to be devoted tC
the encouragement of horse breed
! ing, and $4.000000 to the fedora
: treasury Despite the reduction g
, the tax on pari-mutue takings ID ii
, not believed that returns will b'
below the present figures, which arr
approximately $4,000 600 yearly, sine,
betting through the machines is I,
be permitted with restrictions. OF
races outside Germany Under tn,
existing law. the machines may b,
employed only for domestic races
. @.s