476 



GAMING HOUSES. 



Penalties 

 on gaming- 

 house keepers 

 under 8 & 9 

 Vict, c. 109. 



I'enalty for 

 playing. 



Evidence of 

 gaming. 



may authorize the superintendent to make an entry, with 

 such constables as the Commissioner may direct to accom- 

 pany him, and if necessary to use force to effect such entry, 

 either by breaking open the doors or otherwise, and to take 

 into custody all persons there found, and to seize all 

 tables or instruments of gaming, and all monies and 

 securities for money found in such house or premises (k). 

 He may also search all parts of the house or premises 

 where he shall suspect that tables or instruments of 

 gaming are concealed, as well as all persons there found, 

 and seize all tables and instruments of gaming he may 

 happen to find (/). 



Under 8 & 9 Vict. c. 109, the owner or keeper, and 

 every person having the care or management of such 

 gaming house, and also every banker, croupier and other 

 person in any manner conducting the business of it, on 

 conviction either by his own confession or by the oath of 

 a credible witness before any two justices of the peace, 

 besides being liable, under 33 Hen. 8, c. 9, to pay a fine of 

 forty shillings for each day (m), and to be imprisoned till 

 he shall have found sureties to abstain from such practices 

 for the future («), is liable to such an additional penalty of 

 not more than 100/. as might be adjudged by the justices 

 before whom he may be convicted ; or, in the discretion 

 of such justices, he may be committed for not more than six 

 calendar months to the house of correction, with or without 

 hard labour. On non-payment of any penalty so adjudged, 

 and of the reasonable costs and charges attending the con- 

 viction, one of the convicting justices may, by his war 

 rant, authorize the same to be levied by distress and sale 

 of the goods and chattels of the offender (o). 



The penalty under 33 Hen. 8, c. 9, for using and 

 haunting and playing in gaming houses, was six shillings 

 and eightpence for each time of so doing (p), and such 

 persons when taken might he imprisoned till they gave 

 security to abstain from such practices for the future (q). 



And where any cards, dice, balls, counters, tables, or 

 other instruments of gaming used in playing any un- 

 lawful game are so found, it is evidence, until the contrary 

 is made to appear, that such house, room, or place, is used 



(k) 8 & 9 Vict. u. 109, s. 6. 

 [1) Ibid. s. 7. 

 {ill) 33 Hen. 8, c. 9, s. 11. 

 («) 8 & 9 Vict. c. 109, s. 4. 

 (o) Ibid. See post, p. 479. 



{p) 33 Hen. 8, c. 9, s. 12. See 

 post, pp. 478, 479, as to the penalties, 

 which may be adjudged under 17 & 

 18 Viet. c. 38. 



(}) Ibid. s. 14. 



