The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-23
CITY 'BOOKIES'
CLOSED; why,
NOBODY KNOWS
Fl Horse Betting Joints
Shut Doors; shake Out
Rumored.
POLITICS HINTED CAUSE
Larger Shops May Reopen
in Two Weeks, But
Others Are Out.

This city's Fl horse betting hand
books are closed today for an in
definite period, and for reasons no
one is able to explain satisfactorily.
Tuesday, a police order went out
to all bookies to CLOSE cold" but,
about an hour later they were
notified that they might operate up
to and including yesterday.
The reason for the sudden extern
sion Of time after the original clos
ing order was reported to have been
a desire not to injure unduly the
investment the bookmakers had in
wire service for race results.
The "bookies" contract for this
wire service by the week, paying in
advance, and the weekly period ends
on Fridays. Some books also have
a weekly contract for copies of the
Daily Racing Form, supplied to
their betting clients.
Operators Are Baff1ed'
All of the handbook operators
professed to be baffled by the sud-
den order to close as there have
been no large losses lately which
might have resulted in a "Squawk"
to the law"
However, the police lid" was re-
ported in various sources to be part
of a campaign to shake out" some
of the small fry operators.
The closing period, it was re-
ported, is to last two weeks, after
which approximately dozen of the
books will be permitted to resume
operations with thumbs down" for
the others.
The natural result of such pro-
cedure, it was pointed out, would be
diversion of the business hitherto
done by the small fry operators to
the bigger books.
New Joint Has Glass
One downtown book in particular
will benefit by q sharp decrease in
the number of bookmakers, it is re-
ported.
This book opened only recently.
1t is what is known as a class
joint and would do credit to the
ornate bookmaking establishments
in New York, Chicago and other
larger cities.
According to we'll authenticated
reports. a $4,000 bankroll has been
put behind it by a prominent
Marion County Democratic politi-
clan. This resort, already nick
named Little Monte Carlo" takes
nothing less than ST bets. 1t is
situated over a downtown eat-and-
drink spot.
- The majority of the 81 books
which have been operating until
today we're only too glad to get So
cent horse wagers, but Little Monte
Carlo" is luxuriously furnished and
it has plenty of overhead. 1t needs
a large volume of business to oper-
ate prof1tably.
1t may or may not be significant
but this resort didn't even bother to
finish out this week. 1t closed Tues
day without taking advantage of the
breathing spell.
Only Phone Bets Now
At any rate, the pork and onion
stores books to you-are closed
indefinitely and it will be some time
before you can lay a bet on some
sure thing.
That is. it will be some time if
you expect to stroll casually into
some store" scan leisurely a
Racing Form, hear the running of
the race after you've made your
wager and collect Immediately if
you win.
The only betting available will be
phone betting-if your credit is
good-and the collection will have
to wait until the next day.
The shutdown may be merely po-
lice routine, but there are plenty of
we'll informed persons who will tell
you it is inspired by political, rather
than moral, reasons.