88 Betting : the Theory and Practice explained. 



varies from four rupees each to the maximum amount, which 

 is considered likely to suit the tastes of the majority of the sub- 

 scriber, but the usual price throughout India is ten rupees per 

 ticket. 



Before races an ordinary is held, and first tickets are sold. 

 Some persons having a suj)erstitious penchant for particular 

 numbers can gratify it by putting down their names singly for 

 the number of their choice. But it is customary to toss for 

 tickets, an-d to draw for them in sweeps. In tossing, the loser's 

 name is put down first, and of course he pays for the tickets, 

 though both winner and loser of the toss share profits equally. 

 Thus ' ' Smith to Brown four times ' ' means that Smith has lost 

 the prices of four tickets to Brown. It is absolutely necessary 

 in asking the Secretary of the lottery for tickets to name the 

 loser first, or he would not know to whom to apply for payment. 

 When the lottery is filled, the drawing for horses takes place. 

 Generally two hats are used — one containing the numbers of 

 the tickets marked in ink on wads, and the other holding the 

 names of the horses written on folded slips of paper. Each hat 

 is covered with a handkerchief, and some person pulls out a 

 ticket from the first hat, calling out the number inscribed on it, 

 when a second person takes one of the folded slips from the 

 second hat, and reads aloud the name on it, which is of course 

 duly recorded by the manager of the lottery. 



So far the proceedings partake of the nature of sheer gam- 

 bling, that is to say, trusting entirely to luck without any 

 science. But next takes place the compulsory sale by auction 

 of the horse's chances of winning: this more resembles the 

 English views of betting, where judgment and knowledge (or 

 supposed knowledge) of the subject predominate, though of 

 course there is still a strong element of luck as in all cases of 

 speculation. 



The auction of tickets is conducted like any other auction, 

 the only peculiarity being that the bidder pays the amount of 

 his successful bid twice over ; namely, once to the lottery fund 

 and once to the person, or persons, who drew that horse, in the 

 drawing of tickets. 



The owner of the horse has a right, provided he exercise it 

 at once, to take one-fourth share of the purchase, taking his 

 proportionate share of profit or loss, and it is customary to 

 allow him even so miich as a half share. He must have, how- 

 ever, qualified himself to make his claim by taking one ticket 

 at least for the lottery on that particular race. * No person can 

 bid at the auction who has not taken a ticket in the Race Lottery. 

 This system of lotteries is the Indian mode of getting the 

 odds, but the annoying part of it is, that you cannot tell what 



