The move follows the introduction of the new Betting and Gaming Act.

The aim is to do away with archaic, restrictive and often inconsistent laws on gambling.

And from 1 January 1961 gambling for small sums will be legal for games of skill such as bridge.

As the Daily Telegraph newspaper's leader writer points out: "Weekly bridge clubs, meeting in the local hotel, will no longer have to settle up in the bus shelter."

And pubs will be allowed to introduce slot machines.

Off the streets

The government hopes legalising betting shops will take gambling off the streets and end the practice of bookmakers sending "runners" to collect from punters.

At the moment, anyone who wants to place a bet on the horses has to demonstrate they have enough credit to set up an account with a bookmaker and do their dealings by telephone.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Geoffrey Fisher, welcomed the move as a way of bringing the gambling habits of the country under greater government control.

The Home Secretary, Richard Austen Butler, has set out a timetable for the reforms. In October this year, licensing committees will be set up to consider applications from bookmakers from March and April 1961.

Then from 1 May approved bookmakers issued with licences and permits from the Racecourse Betting Control Board will be allowed to take bets at "tote odds", or totalizator, when the total amount staked - after tax and administrative costs are deducted - is divided among the winners.

Six months later, higher penalties for illegal street betting will be introduced.

The sections of the act governing gaming and arcade machines will probably come into force as soon as this autumn.

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