GAMING ACT AMENDMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2152, 20 July 1920, Page 3

GAMING ACT AMENDMENT.

' BANNING THE BOOKIE,

The Gaming Act Amendment Bill, which will be considered by Purlin,-' merit early this session, aims at stiffening the law against bookmakers.

The repeal is proposed of the provision in the Act of 1910, which bars a bookmaker from betting in a street or on licensed premises, but as substitutes other provisions are contemplated. If the Bill passes in its present form bookmaking will lie declared unlawful, and anyone following the occupation will be liable to a tine of £SOO or to imprisonment for two years. Anyone who bets with a bookmaker will be liable to a tine of £IOO, or to imprisonment for one month.

No person shall be deemed to commit an offence by reason merely of the fact that he has made a bet with any other person upon any particular event, unless it is part of the business or occupation of either of such persons to make'bets. Other provisions read: — - “In any prosecution for an offence against this Act the fact that a person has directly or indirectly offered to make a bet or has issued or been party to the issue of any card or circular indicating in any manner where or with whom a bet may be made, or stating the odds upon or against any horse or event, shall be sufficient evidence, until the contrary is proved, that such person is carrying on the business or occupation of a bookmaker.” “A bookmaker may be removed from a racecourse by any agent or servant of the racing club having the use or control of that racecourse, or by any const.abio.”