University of Virginia Library

STATISTICS OF GAMBLING IN 1844.

The following facts came out in evidence before the committee of the House of Commons, in 1844.

Down to that year there were no less than 12 gaming houses in St James's and St George's. The play was higher in old times, but not so general.

`The increase of gambling houses was entirely the offspring of Crockford's.' Such was the opinion

of the Honourable Frederick Byng, before the committee, who added, `that the facility to everybody to gamble at Crockford's led to the establishment of other gambling houses fitted up in a superior style, and attractive to gentlemen who never would have thought of going into them formerly.'

Previously, in the clubs, the gambling was confined to a very high rate and to a very few people. The above-named witness said he `could have named all the gamblers in his early days at the clubs. No person coming into a room where Hazard was carried on would have been permitted to play for a small sum, and therefore he left it.'

The same gentleman remembered the time when gambling tables were kept in private houses.

`It is a fact that most of those who played very high were pretty well cleaned out.'

`Crockford increased gambling everywhere.' `Persons of the middling classes, butchers, and gentleman's servants went to the low gambling houses.'

These places held out inducements to robbery. `If a servant or shopman could scrape together

£200 or £300, he had, by the agency of the keepers of these houses, the opportunity of lending out his money to the losers at 60 per cent.'