368 RACING, WAGERS AND GAMING. 



time to indemnify persons connected with Art Unions from 

 certain penalties («) ; and at last an Act was passed under 

 whicli they may be legalized by charter (o), which was 

 supplemented by another Act to remove certain doubts 

 which had arisen as to their legality (p). The 6 & 7 

 Will. 4, c. 66, was also amended so as more effectually to 

 prevent the advertising of foreign and other illegal 

 lotteries (q). 



After the passing of 8 & 9 Vict. c. 109, an attempt was 

 made to set up racing lotteries and sweeps, and it was 

 suggested during the argument of the case of Gcitii/ v. 

 Field (r), that under the proviso of the 18th section of the 

 above statute, Derby lotteries were no longer illegal. 

 They were however held to be on the same footing as other 

 lotteries, and after that time were gradually superseded by 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 race. 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 Vict. c. 119, was passed, 

 being "An Act for the suppression of betting houses," 

 which received the royal assent on the 20th of August, 

 1853. It recites that " a kind of gaming has of late 

 sprung up, tending to the injury and demorahzation of 

 improvident persons, by the opening of places called betting 

 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 contin- 

 gencies." It prohibits any such betting houses being 

 kept (s) and makes them gaming houses within 8 & 9 Vict, 

 c. 109 (i!). It forbids any person using a place for the 

 purpose of betting with persons resorting there, or using a 

 place for the purpose of receiving deposits on bets (m), and 

 imposes penalties on persons connected with betting 



{«) 7 & 8 Vict. c. 109 ; 8 & 9 (>■) Gatti/ v. Field, 9 Q. B. 431 ; 



Vict. 0. 57. S. C, 15 L. J., Q. B. 408. 



(o) 9 & 10 Vict. c. 48, Appen- (s) 16 & 17 Vict. c. 119, s. 1, 



elix. Appendix. 



(p) 21 & 22 Vict. u. 102, re- (t) Ibid. s. 2. 



pealed. (u) Ibid. ss. 1, 3, Appendix. 



{(I) 8 & 9 Vict. c. 74. 



c. 119. 



