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by Im Alec has abandoned this account on March 21st, 2007
People have placed bets since time immemorial. However, in the 18th century, betting became widespread and popular amongst rich young men in London, who would place a bet on almost anything. Since many bets were placed by young, impetuous men who had had a few drinks, arguments often arose as to what exactly had been wagered. Therefore the clubs where they met took to having an official Club Book in which they could record their bets. When professionals came into the field, they wanted a name that associated them with this up-market wagering, so instead of saying that they were accepting bets, they said that they were "making a book" on an event. Hence bookmaker/
by keithold is a prodigal bagger on March 21st, 2007
G'day Gerrik,
Thank you for your question.
I assume it is because they kept records for each race in a book. When they set the odds for each race, they did so in terms of the bets that they had taken in their book.
The Oxford English Dictionary states that the first reference to a bookmaker in a betting sense recorded in the London Review in 1862. "Betting there seemed to be none..we could not perceive a single book or book-maker."
I have attached sources for your reference.
Regards
Oxford English Dictionary
Wikipedia Bookmaker
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookmaker
Answers.com Bookmaker
http://www.answers.com/bookmaker&r=67
by realpph on June 28th, 2009
Solutions for Bookmakers here www.realpriceperhead.com
Price per head services for bookmakers at Real Price per Head.
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