Just to point out some possibly ambiguous phrasing, but the person pulling the prank was trying to win the bet - the tradespeople and visitors were called there

Just to point out some possibly ambiguous phrasing, but the person pulling the prank was trying to win the bet - the tradespeople and visitors were called there to use their services(ie chimney sweeps thought they were going to sweep a chimney), not that they themselves were going to claim some prize.