crown and anchor game

[Muerrisch]

I have heard it said that in the Great War the crown and anchor gambling game was a naval crime, but accepted by the army.

Can any Pal clear this up please?

[Will O'Brien]

Don't know that I can make anything clear as I was under the impression that gambling was against army regs too !! - although i've got a feeling that Bingo of all games was officially sanctioned.

Will

[Guest Hill 60]

LB1418 - Try looking here, CROWN & ANCHOR. It was a thread I started asking about the game, some of the answers might help you out.

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

King's Regulations are very blunt about this - para 459, in total >

"All gambling in garrisons, camps, or cantoments is forbidden. This includes book-making, or acting as an agent for a book-maker."

(Everybody paid attention to that, of course).

Regards - Tom

[Muerrisch]

Folks, consider med fully educated on the matter in next to no time. Golly gosh, that was quick.

[ianw]

I think Crown and Anchor was especially frowned upon because its very structure slants things outrageously in favour of the banker. Therefore, operating the game became the preserve of battalion hard-nuts and thugs with all the associated bad behaviour that was needed to protect the franchise.

[Guest stevebec]

This has been on this site before check and you may find it.

That said this game is used and played for money during my time in the Sgt's Mess of my Regt.

The ammounts are not high and almost as quickly gone to buy drinks for the other blokes in the mess.

If I remember one of my ex RSM's was into Mess games in a big way and we had many games nights.

S.B

[mordac]

One of my favorite Great War cartoons by Jimmie Frise of the 12th Battery, CFA.

Garth

[Cynthia]

Any Pals want to teach me how to play when I visit in November? I'm just a babe in the woods, so if any of you say 'yes,' then we will know who the battalion thugs are!

Seriously, I remember the previous thread and wanted to buy my own Crown & Anchor set to bring back with me so I can fleece, ahem, I mean TEACH my American friends how to play! Can I pick up a set when I am visiting?

Looking forward to learning the tricks, I mean rules of the game!

Cynthia

[Hedley Malloch]

I think Crown and Anchor was especially frowned upon because its very structure slants things outrageously in favour of the banker. Therefore, operating the game became the preserve of battalion hard-nuts and thugs with all the associated bad behaviour that was needed to protect the franchise.

Yes. From JoeG's account of how the game operated the odds of a wining throw were 216/1 - but the bank only paid 9/1. The odds on the lesser prize were 36/1 for which the bank paid 2/1. One would have to be pretty daft to play it.