Singapore legislation
Clause 7
Clause 7
Gaming in public
(1)
A police officer may arrest without warrant any person found gaming in any public place and may seize all instruments or appliances for gaming found in such public place or on the persons of those arrested under this section.
(2)
Any person gaming in any public place shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction 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; and all instruments or appliances for gaming seized under this section may be declared by the court before which the conviction is had to be forfeited to the Government and shall be dealt with accordingly.
(3)
Any person who is the tenant, lessee, occupier or person in charge of any public place which is used for gaming shall unless such person proves that he has no knowledge that the premises are used for gaming be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction 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.
(4)
Any person who instigates, promotes or intentionally facilitates the commission of an offence punishable under subsection (2) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction 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.
(5)
Any person who —
erects, maintains or controls, or assists to erect, maintain or control, any hut, shed, tent or other building or shelter whatsoever wherein an offence punishable under subsection (2) of this section is committed; or
brings to, or has in his possession at or near, a place where an offence punishable under subsection (2) of this section is committed any instruments or appliances for gaming; or
keeps watch in order to warn or warns persons committing an offence punishable under subsection (2) of this section of risk of detection,shall be presumed until the contrary is proved, to have promoted the commission of an offence punishable under subsection (4) of this section.
(6)
A person shall not by reason only of the fact that he has committed an offence punishable under subsection (2) of this section be liable to be convicted of an offence under subsection (3) or (4) of this section.
(7)
Where it is shown that any person has been found to be playing any game of chance or any mixed game of chance and skill in a public place, it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved that such person was gaming in such public place.
(8)
Where evidence is given by a police officer that any article found in any public place is an instrument or appliance for gaming it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved —
that gaming took place at such public place;
that the person having possession, custody or control of such article was gaming at such public place; and
that the public place was used for gaming.