China tests gambling on horses, once a major vice

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) — Organized gambling on horse races has returned to mainland China for the first time since the ruling Communist Party seized power in 1949, state media reported.

The central city of Wuhan in Hubei province held a trial horse racing event Saturday in which spectators could bet on four races at the Orient Lucky City racecourse, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

It is illegal to gamble in mainland China. The Communists deemed gambling a major vice, along with opium, when they came to power, and made a priority of eliminating them.

Xinhua said spectators were allowed to place two bets for free and winners received 20 lottery tickets issued by the local sports lottery administration.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j67f0Gxmny_IYTOC-BVjNxjxbLhgD94PCK2G0

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Well, I find this disappointing, as the horse racing industry causes cruelty to horses.

[Ian David]

1. Aren't mah jong tiles made out of horses? n/t

[secondwind]

2. So sad............and they will probably sell them to peddlers when

they can no longer run, or even worse.

:(

[Doctor Cynic]

3. Perhaps, but everyone lives and breathes on gambling in China.

Making something legal and regulated is always better than banning it and declaring a War on X.

[Aviation Pro]

4. Just returned from Vegas (baby)....

....and I'll lay even odds that the largest percentage of gamblers were Oriental (just an observation).

Oh, and if you want to question whether there is a recession, go to the strip. ("Recession? What recession," I asked as I passed my fifth Rolex dealership).

[soothsayer]

8. I was recently in Vegas and thought that there were fewer gamblers there

than usual

[unkachuck]

5. decadent, very decadent....n/t

[Javaman]

6. how long till the test doping? nt

[nc4bo]

7. Finally! NOW maybe we can sell something to China.....something from Kentuckey

or other stateside horse breeding meccas.

LOL - they'll beat us doing that too.