THE LAW AND BETTING

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 35, 11 February 1933, Page 7

THE LAW AND BETTING

'•The attitude of the law toward betting is difficult and can never be entirely consistent," sa?d the "Spectator" recently. -In the eyes of the law bettinis not a moral evil to be suppressed, it is a. social evil to be controlled, and though the limits of control are hard, if not impossible, to set logically,. it will generally be conceded that, if betting is to be acquiesced in anywhere, ■it is on the actual course where the- horses, or for that matter the dogs, which are being betted on are running. That is, in fact, the principle that has always been followed in regard to horse-racing. -"The totalisator has introduced a new factor into the situation in England, but on the whole it is a factor-to be .welcomed. With a totalisator there is no welshmg and no touting. It may facilitate betting, but at least it does not encourage it.,

- Concluding some general observations on the social aspects of the question, the Spectator says:—"lt remains true at any rate that the citizen of most value to this country is the man whq uses tiis money wisely to secure the best'life for himself and his dependants, trusting as much as possible to prudence and forethought and as little as possible to chance; and that any who incite him to an opposite course are enemies to the country's