SECRET GAMBLING IN LONDON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10710, 4 November 1912, Page 4

SECRET GAMBLING IN LONDON.

Secret gambling in London is said to have diminished l the returns of many Continental caskros this year. The director of a French casino stated to a representative of the London Standard recently, that the revival of gaming in London was a subject of common talk in France. "'Since English players,are our best clients," he said, "we naturally learn what is going on in England in this way. Not very long ago the Standard gave a revelation of clandestine play in the, servants' premises of a. nobleman's house, and there were, I believe, some twenty arrests just lately in connection with another gaming rendezvous iin London. But the startling neks which occasionally leaks out in Eng- , land only corroborates what we have known for sorno time. One of the : -signs by which we cam judge the extent of secret gambling in London is ; the disappearance of well-known 'Greeks,' the name we giro to sharpers. Wherever there is unregulated i play it is natural that there should be. a number of undesirable persons trying to make whit they can out of unprotected ignorance. I suppose that few people realise that in every : French casino a policeman is present during the hours of play to check the conduct not only of the players, but also of the authorities of the casino. Sharpers are su'd to be reaping a harvest in' London just now, and T have no doubt that this information is"correct. English men n nd English women, are very fond of play, and if they can get it at home they naturally 1 try to do so. Our own returns have shown a distinct diminution of English players this year, and some of those players are old and respected frequenters of our tables. This means that the secret gambling; in London at present does not exclusively attract quite simple and innocent people, -who ■are an easy prey to the adventurer."