[cissou]

I think a big difference here is that bucketeers knew they weren't actually buying the securities, and just waging against one another. The scheme in the article is like a combination of a bucket shop and a concealed ponzi scheme

[arethuza]

Is running a bucket shop still illegal even if you are open with everyone that it is a bucket shop and people are just gambling?

[tim333]

The modern equivalent is spreadbetting. We have loads in the UK.

[pjc50]

That usually falls foul of gambling laws.