Betting Off the Course Lord Londonderry declared the Government's intention
to make one change in the Betting Bill which is more logical than satisfactory. It proposes to drop the clause prohibiting Pari-mutuel betting off the course. The reason for this decision is that, with this one exception, the Bill is confined to changes in the law affecting on-the- course betting, and that it would not be satisfactory to deal with a single aspect of gambling outside race-courses when so many inter-related questions—notably, street- betting—are left untouched. The postponement of this issue certainly makes. for self-consistency in the Bill, but possibly at a high cost. Lord Londonderry admitted that the decision might leave a loophole for undesirable and possibly fraudulent practices—and he evidently had in mind something resembling the tote-clubs which became so scandalously conspicuous two years ago. It is a pity that the Government, having screwed up its courage to the point of bringing in this Bill, should not have gone the vvhole way and sought a solution of the wider question of street betting and credit betting, which, however difficult and controversial it may be, cannot for ever be shirked.
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