Illegal Gambling in the Second Republic of Poland. A Research Reconnaissance

Abstract

Illegal Gambling in the Second Republic of Poland. A Research Reconnaissance

(Summary)

The article is an attempt at presenting widely comprehended illegal gambling in the Second Republic of Poland (i.e. such games as roulette, poker or craps in which the outcome depends in sheer luck and not the players’ skills), with consideration for its multi-aspect character. The text is a research reconnaissance limited to the area of pre-war Warsaw. The author treats illegal gambling in the Polish capital as a point of departure for general theses on the subject, referring to urban centres across the whole country to indicate those features of pre-war illegal gambling, which remained typical for Warsaw. The article is based on such sources as the local press and police-court-prison documentation as well as associated normative acts. Illegal gambling is discussed on several levels, first and foremost, its legal situation in the Republic, followed by its assorted forms and organisation, and, finally, the environment of its organisers and participants.