STRANGE BILLIARDS PROPOSAL
Daily News (London), Friday 18 November 1904
The Billiards Association is calling a special meeting of its members for November 24 with a view to taking steps to obtain an alteration of the law which prevents gambling on games of skill (billiards, pool, snookers’ pool, pyramids, etc.) on licensed premises. As the law stands at present playing for money or money’s worth, when the destination of the slakes or pool depends upon the result of the game, is contrary to law, and there have been many convictions. These have had the effect of practically stopping games of pool, skittle pool, and the like where money is paid by one player to another. The conveners of the special meeting will propose “that while members of the Billiard Association strongly disapprove of gambling anywhere under any circumstances, police proceedings should be discouraged for allowing competitions in games of skill upon licensed premises, provided they are played openly and properly regulated.”