DOINGS IN GAMING HOUSES. The gaming table : its votaries and victims, in all times and countries,
especially in England and in France. Vol. 2 | ||
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
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
DOINGS IN GAMING HOUSES. The gaming table : its votaries and victims, in all times and countries,
especially in England and in France. Vol. 2 | ||