The Times of Tuesday published a most effective letter from
Lord Newton in support of the policy for the taxation of betting which we have recommended in the Spectator—the policy of taxing credit betting (and if possible race-course betting) as a beginning, but leaving what is called " street betting " alone for the present. This would mean that there would be no alteration whatever in the betting laws. The turnover of the kind of betting that is already legal is enormous and it ought to be taxed at once. A double purpose would be served ; betting would be discouraged and the Exchequer would get a revenue, perhaps a large one. We agree with Lord Wittenham, who said in a letter to the Times of Wednesday that the alteration of the laws and the creation of betting offices by the State in order to bring street betting under control is " a formidable prospect." Surely the line of least resistance is in these circumstances the best. Nobody supposes that a tax on betting could take its final form at once. We must feel our way and grow wise through experience as we have done in the case of drink taxation. It was a pleasure to read the Times' leading article on Monday which summed up in favour of a tax.
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