NEW GAMING BILL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 937, 3 October 1910, Page 4

NEW GAMING BILL.

DRASTIC PROVISIONS.

BOOKMAKERS ABOLISHEDTOTALISATOR PERMITS CUT DOWN,' RACING REDUCED. The Government's new Gaming Bill, which is to be circulated to-day, will bo found to contain 6omo drastic provisions. Street-Betting. In the first place, street-betting is dealt with in severe fashion. Any person who loiters m any street for purposes of betting uill be guilty of an offence, and liable to a fine of not less than .£2O or moie than .£IOO for a first offence. If he offends again three months' imprisonment may be his portion. Power ia given the police to ariest on suspicion without warrant. • The Bookmaker, The bookmaker is condemned outright It is specifically piovided that the business of bookmaking is an unlawful calling; and every person who pursues this calling is liable to a fine of ,'.£ 100 or imprisonment for three months, Moreover, every person who bets with a bookmaker is liable to a fine not exceeding unless he can prove that he did not know when making the wager that he was betting with a bookmaker. Eacing-clubs are given powers to prevent bookmakers plying their calling on racecourses. The Totalisator. The intentions of the Government re* garding the totalisator will probably prove of mo6t general interest. At the present time racing clubs are granted 128 totalisator permits each year. After July next, if the Bill passes, the number will be reduced to 100, with a limit of 190 racing days. Trotting clubs.will have the number of permits issued to them reduced from 28 to 22, with a limit of fifty days' racing. _ The following' table will show the position as it is to-day, and as it will' be it the Bill passes into law:— Racing Clubs. ' Permits. Days' Racing. Present position 128 242 New proposals ....... 100 190 .Seduction ........ 28 53 TBOTTIIfG Clubs. Permits. Days' Trotting Present position 28 63 New proposals ....... 23 50 Seduction 6 13 ,The proposed changes will come as 8 severe shock to some of the olnbs which have committed themselves to engagements ahead, i Every totalisator permit 1 issued will be issued in respect of aemgle race meeting, ', and will specify the day or days oa which the totalisator may be used. Instead of the racing and trotting conferences apportioning the permits, sub- , ject to the Minister's approval, a special commission, consisting of 5 persons, to be ~ appointed by the Government, is to be set up to receive applications and allocate, the permits. The Minister, however, will " rtill retain his power of veto. Minor Provisions. There axe several other minor provisions. One is to compel all who bet through the totalisator to do so with , gold or bank notes. This is to prevent any betting on credit by arrangement with a club, which 16 said to be done'on occasions when the olub is satisfied with the finanoial stability -of the person granted this privilege. The law is also to be made more stringent in regard to the publication of any indication ever of the degree of. favouritism of horses on the totalisator.