386 RACING, WAGERS AND GAMING. 



They were liowever held to be on the same footing as 

 other Lotteries, and after that time were gradually super- 

 seded by Offices kept for the purpose of Betting. In these 

 places Lists were exhibited and Odds given in sums high 

 or low, to suit each customer. Every person was required 

 to stake his money at the time, and leave it to abide the 

 event of the Eace. The natural consequence ensued ; 

 persons entrusted with money, embezzled it, to make a 

 venture, and clerks, servants and mere children were thus 

 corrupted and ruined. 

 16 & 17 Vict. To remedy these evils, 16 & 17 Yict. c. 119 was passed, 

 ^- 11^- being "An Act for the Suppression of Bettiug Houses," 



which received the Eoyal Assent on the 20th of August, 

 1858. It recites that " a kind of Gaming has of late 

 sprung up, tending to the injury and demoralization of 

 improvident persons, by the opening of places called Bet- 

 ting Houses or Offices, and the receiving of money in 

 advance by the owners or occupiers of such Houses or 

 Offices, or by other persons acting on their behalf, on their 

 promises to pay money on events of Horse Races and the 

 like contingencies." It prohibits any such Betting Houses 

 being kept (.s), and makes them Graming Houses within 

 8 & 9 Yict. c. 109 (/). It forbids any person using a place 

 for the purpose of betting with persons resorting there, or 

 using a place for the piu-pose of receiving deposits on 

 Bets {i(), and imposes penalties on persons connected with 

 Betting Houses (.r), or exhibiting placards or advertising 

 them (y). This most stringent Act (c), containing various 

 other provisions, has had the effect of putting down Bet- 

 ting Houses in those parts of Grreat Britain, to which it 

 extends. It does not extend to Scotland {a). 

 37Vict. c. 15. The 37 Yict. c. 15 (The Betting Act, 1874), amends 

 the 16 & 17 Yict. c. 119, and extends its provisions to 

 Scotland, and by sect. 1 it shall be construed as one 

 with that Act, which is referred to as the Principal Act. 

 By sect. 3, where any letter, circular, telegram, placard, 

 handbill, card or advertisement is sent, exhibited or pub- 

 lished, (1) whereby it is made to appear that any person, 

 either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, will, on appli- 

 cation, give information or advice for the purpose of or 

 with respect to any such Bet or Wager, or any such event 



(«) 16 & 17 Vict. 0. 119, s. 1, (.r) Ibid. ss. 3, 4. 



Appendix. (y) Ibid. s. 7. 



(0 Ibid. s. 2. (z) See post, Chap. 5. 



{ii) Ibid. ss. 1, 3, Appendix. («) Ibid. s. 20. 



