bucket shop

Stock Exchange. an unsound, unethical, or overly aggressive brokerage house.

Slang. any shady commercial agency, as one dealing in illegally priced theater tickets.

Origin of bucket shop

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; originally a cheap drinking establishment, allegedly so called because liquor was mixed or sold in buckets

The difference is between a stock-exchange business and a bucket-shop business.

Commercial Law |Samuel Williston, Richard D. Currier, and Richard W. Hill
At the inquest he described himself as a stockbroker, so I presume he is still connected with the bucket-shop.

The Mystery of 31 New Inn |R. Austin Freeman
And the bucket-shop keeper across the way smiles softly to himself and says nothing.

Rockhaven |Charles Munn
Your bucket-shop man is practically betting fifteen dollars of his money against twenty of yours on worse than an even break.

Young Wallingford |George Randolph Chester

This bucket-shop was confined to the tender mercies of one "Jo" Lumpkin as manager.

Frenzied Finance |Thomas W. Lawson

bucket shop

an unregistered firm of stockbrokers that engages in speculation with clients' funds

mainly British any small business that cannot be relied upon, esp one selling cheap airline tickets