Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956

Number 2 of 1956

GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT 1956

REVISED

Updated to 31 July 2023

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023 (25/2023), enacted 20 July 2023, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 389 of 2023), made 28 July 2023, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.


Number 2 of 1956


GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT 1956

REVISED

Updated to 31 July 2023


ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Part I.

PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL.

Section

1.

Short title and commencement.

2.

Definitions.

3.

Repeals.

Part II.

GAMING.

4.

Unlawful gaming.

5.

Use of places for unlawful gaming. (Repealed)

6.

Gaming at circus or travelling show. (Repealed)

7.

Gaming at carnivals. (Repealed)

8.

Residence qualifications for promoters of gaming. (Repealed)

9.

Gaming on licensed premises. (Repealed)

9A.

Gaming permits

10.

Prohibition of slot-machines. (Repealed)

11.

Cheating. (Repealed)

Part III.

LICENSING OF AMUSEMENT HALLS AND FUNFAIRS.

12.

Application of this Part.

13.

Adoption of this Part by local authority.

14.

Licensed amusement hall and funfair.

15.

Certificate for gaming licence.

16.

Notice of application for certificate.

17.

Hearing of application.

18.

Appeal in respect of application for certificate.

19.

Issue of licence.

19A.

Register of Gaming Licences.

20.

Display of notice by licensee.

Part IV.

LOTTERIES.

21.

Prohibition of lotteries. (Repealed)

22.

Advertisement of lotteries. (Repealed)

22A.

Non-Application of Section 22. (Repealed)

23.

Private lotteries. (Repealed)

24.

Lotteries at dances and concerts. (Repealed)

25.

Lotteries at carnivals and other events. (Repealed)

26.

Lotteries under permit or licence.

26A.

Non-Application of Section 26.

27.

Permits. (Repealed)

27A.

Lotteries held in conjunction with certain events

27B.

Lottery permits.

28.

Lottery licence.

28A.

Matters to take into consideration when making regulations under section 27 or 28. (Repealed)

29.

Notice of application for licence. (Repealed)

30.

False statements on application for licence or permit.

31.

Hearing of application.

32.

Appeal in respect of application for licence. (Repealed)

33.

Lottery tickets.

34.

Prohibition on taking or sending money or documents out of State. (Repealed)

35.

Exemption from Betting Acts.

Part V.

ENFORCEMENT, EVIDENCE AND PENALTIES.

36.

Gaming and wagering contracts void.

37.

Seizure of gaming instruments.

38.

Power of entry of Garda Síochána.

39.

Search warrant.

40.

Arrest of offenders.

41.

Obstruction of Garda Síochána.

42.

Evidence of keeping place for unlawful gaming.

43.

Evidence of unlawful gaming.

44.

Offences.

45.

Offences in relation to bodies corporate and unincorporated bodies. (Repealed)

46.

Revocation of licences and permits.

47.

Forfeiture of gaming instruments.

48.

Destruction of documents.

49.

Postal packets containing unlawful documents posted in the State.

50.

Records, accounts and returns.

50A.

Regulations

51.

Exemption of Hospitals' Sweepstakes.

SCHEDULE.


Acts Referred to

Criminal Justice Act, 1951

No. 2 of 1951

Betting Act, 1931

No. 27 of 1931


Number 2 of 1956


GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT 1956

REVISED

Updated to 31 July 2023


AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO GAMING AND LOTTERIES. [14th February, 1956.]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:—

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text):

C1

Application of collectively cited Gaming and Lotteries Acts restricted (27.02.2014) by National Lottery Act 2013 (13/2013), s. 50, commenced as per s. 1(3).

Exemption of National Lottery from Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 to 2013

50. The Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 to 2013 do not apply to the National Lottery.

C2

Application of collectively cited Gaming and Lotteries Acts restricted (27.10.2008) by European Communities (Financial Instruments Analogous to Prize Bonds) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 419 of 2008), reg. 2

2. The Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 to 2003 do not apply to financial instruments which are analogous to non-interest bearing securities created and issued by the Minister for Finance under Part V of the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 (No. 47 of 1956), in relation to which chance may be used to select particular securities for prizes, issued by—

(a) another Member State,

(b) a regional authority in another Member State, or

(c) a local authority in another Member State.

C3

Application of collectively cited Gaming and Lotteries Acts restricted (15.07.1986) by National Lottery Act 1986 (28/1986), s. 32, commenced on enactment.

Exemption of National Lottery from Gaming and Lotteries Acts, 1956 to 1979.

32.— The Gaming and Lotteries Acts, 1956 to 1979, shall not apply to the National Lottery.

C4

Application of Act restricted (27/12/1956) by Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 (47/1956), s. 22(5), commenced on enactment.

Prize bonds.

2.— …

(5) Nothing contained in the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1956 (No. 2 of 1956), shall apply in relation to prize bonds.