Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1883 — Gambling in Leadville. [ARTICLE]

Gambling in Leadville.

The gambling business is as openly conducted as the dry-goods stores —in fact, more so, since the stores do close up once in a while, which is more than can be said of the “tiger dens.” Ihe principal business is carried on in twelve or fifteen places, all run in connection with saloons. Most of the tables are on the first floor, and in several saloons operations can be plainly seen from the street. Some few have an up-stairs apartment, a little more exclusive and more handsomely furnished, which it seems to be the fashion to call “reading-rooms.” Faro, roulette and poker are the most popular games, and. everybody plays, from the small boy who mdkes bets of a quarter each, to the man who has “struck it rich,” and lays down a pile of S2O gold pieces on the ace. The element of risk and uncertainty in mining operations—in which everybody out here is in some way interested—seems to stimulate this feverish anxiety to take a chance in something, and the gambling table affords the same kind of excitement tc be found in the occupation of the prospector and the miner. To the man who is poverty-stricken to-day and possibly a wealthy man next week any ordinary amusement is entirely too tame. Then there are men here who have made fortunes at gambling, but they are the dealers. The players themselves almost lose more than they win.— Leadville letter.