Common Gaming Houses (Amendment) Bill

Bill No. 16/1985

Read the first time on 31st October 1985.

An Act to amend the Common Gaming Houses Act (Chapter 96 of the Revised Edition).

Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:

Short title and commencement

1. This Act may be cited as the Common Gaming Houses (Amendment) Act 1985 and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.

Amendment of section 4

2. Section 4(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act (referred to in this Act as the principal Act) is amended by deleting the words “to a fine not exceeding six thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment” and substituting the words “to a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years”.

Amendment of section 4A

3. Section 4A of the principal Act is amended by deleting the words “to a fine not less than two thousand dollars but not exceeding twenty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment” and substituting the words “to a fine of not less than $20,000 and not more than $200,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years”.

Amendment of section 5

4. Section 5 of the principal Act is amended by deleting the words “to a fine not exceeding six thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment” and substituting the words “to a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years”.

Repeal and re-enactment of section 6

5. Section 6 of the principal Act is repealed and the following section substituted therefor:

“Gaming in a common gaming house

6. Any person who games in a common gaming house shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.”.

Amendment of section 7

6. Section 7 of the principal Act is amended —

(a)	by deleting the words “to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment” in subsection (2) and substituting the words “to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both”;
(b)	by deleting the words “to a fine not exceeding six thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment” in subsection (3) and substituting the words “to a fine of not less than $20,000 and not more than $200,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years”; and
(c)	by deleting the words “to a fine not exceeding six thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment” in subsection (4) and substituting the words “to a fine of not less than $20,000 and not more than $200,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years”.

Amendment of section 8

7. Section 8(1) of the principal Act is amended by deleting the words “to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and imprisonment” and substituting the words “to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both”.

Repeal of sections 15, 16 and 17 and re-enactment of sections 15 and 16

8. Sections 15, 16 and 17 of the principal Act are repealed and the following sections substituted therefor:

“Presumptions

15. Where in any proceedings under this Act any instruments or appliances for gaming are found in any place entered under this Act or upon any person found in such place, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the place is a common gaming house and that it is so kept, used or permitted to be used by the owner or occupier thereof and that any other person found in such place or escaping from it is gaming therein.

Obstruction of police officers

16. Any person who obstructs any police officer in the exercise of any powers under this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.”.

Repeal and re-enactment of section 21

9. Section 21 of the principal Act is repealed and the following section substituted therefor:

“Jurisdiction of courts

21. A District Court or a Magistrate’s Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine all proceedings under this Act and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 113), shall have power to impose the full penalty or punishment in respect of any offence under this Act.”.

Repeal of sections 23 and 24 and re-enactment of section 23

10. Sections 23 and 24 of the principal Act are repealed and the following section substituted therefor:

“Exemption

23.—(1) The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, either generally or in any particular case and subject to such conditions as he may impose, exempt from all or any of the provisions of this Act any person or organisation in respect of any public lottery or gaming conducted under the control or supervision of such person or organisation.

(2) It shall be lawful for any person to participate in any public lottery or gaming exempted under subsection (1).”.

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