Gaming Houses.
The Times, 1824-07-23T00:00:00

TO TIlE EDITOR OF THE TIrES.: Sir,-The action against the Keepers of a ceitain nWto- tious "Hall," which was noticeJl in the diff'er6rtjournals, as coming on, is withdrawn, or more properly speaking "is compromise(l." Thlus it will always be; and the di- ferent " Hells" still flourish with impunity, to the enrich- ment.of a few knaves, and the ruin of many more thou- sants, till more effectual laws are framed to meet the evil. As they net thousands a night, a few hundreds or even thousands can be well spared to smother a few actions and prosecutions, which are very rarely institutted against themr; and never but by ruined men, who are easily quieted by a small consideration, which, from recent judgments, will not be vwithheld, therefore we shall see recorded very few convictions, if any at all. At the head of these infamous establishments is the one yclept " Fishmongers'-hall," which,sacks more plunder than all the others put together, though they consist of aboat a dozen. This place has been fitted up at an expense of near 40,0001., and is the most splendid house interiorly and exteriorly in all the neigh- bourlhood. It is established as a bait for the fortunes of the groat, many ofwwhem have already been very severe sufferers. Invitations to dinner are sent to noblemen and gentlemen, at which they are treatedwitheverydelicacy,and thernostintoxi- cating wines. After such " liberal" entertainment, a visit to the Rouge et Noir or French Hazard-table in the ad- joining rooms is a matter of course, when the consequences are easily divine(d. A man thus alured tothe den, may deteemine not to lose more than the few pounds he has about him; but in the intonication of the moment, and the delirium of play, it frequently happens that, notwithstand- ing the best resolves, he borrows money upor. his checks, whiehlbeing known to be good, are readily cashed to very considerable amounts. In thtis manner, 10,0001., 20,0001., 30,0001., or more have often bcen swept away. The bank at each table consists of 20,0001,, and has certain points or bars in its favour, which, it is modestly observed, are to ensure and cover t1he expenses of the house, which they do with a vengeance. At Rouge et Noir tite point is 1i per cent. per event or stake, or 1001. per cent. per stake per hour. At French Hazard about 5 per cent. per event or stake, or 1001. per cent. per stake per lhour. The events at French Hazard (lo not come off so quick as at Rouge et Noir. Against the two banks collectively, near 10,0001. are often down, subject to this enormous tax, which, if the oints of the gamne alluded to come up at the time, lays half to the bank, though these points may also come up when little or ne money is down noon the table. To show clearly the bearings of these points, we must therefore argue upon an average stake. Suppose the stakes risked at the two games average 5001. to each event, then Sool. perl hour are tlhus sacrificed, without the players having the slightest chanice of winning a penny. The hours of play are from 10 o'clock at night to aniy hour throughout the night. Average the hours of play at five hours per night, siX nights per week, (luring a season of nine months; thius, upon this very moderate calculation, 2.500L per night, 15,0001. per week, 60,0001. per mnonth, and 540,000. per nine months, fall Into the banks by the poiyts of the game in favour of thcm alone. This is calculated upon as a dead certainty, as those points are as sure to come up as well as any other point of the game. It is but fair to sup- pose that half this sum may be money won of the banks; still the enormous sum of 270,0001. actually comes out of the pockets of the different players. Nowv, this is exclusive of what is gained by cheating, and upon the equal chances. However great this sum may appear, let a player at the house note dow7n the different sums which fall upon such points for one evening only, wlien he will be convinced tlatthis statement is even under the mark. The principal man at this place is C- . Those who knew him about 2Z0 years ago, when he kept a small fish- monger's shop (from which circumstance lis l" Hell" is tlesignated), and was put to his wivts for money to go to market with, will feel astonished at his being able to fit up a house at such cost, and put down two banks of 20,0001. each; but the mystery is soon solved. He commenced his career by taking the long odds at some races, by which he won a few hundreds. He then joined H-y A-n (a man 15 years ago a porter at a "' Hell" in St. James's street, but who has iIow amassed 150,0001. of plunder),and together put down a bank of 2,0001. at No. 5,King-street, St.James's, where tbeir spoils wvere immense. They left No. 5, King- street, three years ago, when, in conjutiction with rT- r, (a man who a few years ago took the benefits of the act, and subsequently kept one or two 1 Hells" in Pall-mall, but has amassed full 150,0001. of plunder), and A (formerly. a valet, then a dealer to F-- r, and has now 70,0001. of plunder), they opened a club-house in Pic- cadilly, with a French Hazard bank of 10,OOoL, where in a short time they divided between the tour, after all their heavy expenses were covered, upwards of 200,0001. ln pro- portion to the extent of the bank and the stakcs, so ao they collect the plunder. It is to be hoped that some notice will be taken of the subject next sessions of Parliament, and that a committee will be appointed to collect evidence, in order that a stop mnay be put to the evil. I am, Sir, vottr humble servant. EXPO$ITOR. I L'OllOs J UIy 'W, HB24. GAMI-A OUSBS.