Betting and Gaming Duties Act 1981

Enforcement U.K.

16 (1) Any person who is knowingly concerned in or in taking steps with a view to the fraudulent evasion by him or any other person of bingo duty shall be guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction to a penalty of the prescribed sum or, if greater, treble the amount of the duty payment of which is sought to be evaded or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment to a penalty of any amount or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F1 seven years] or to both.

(2) Any person who—

(a) is knowingly concerned with the promotion of bingo (being bingo which is or may be chargeable with bingo duty) where the promoter is not registered by the Commissioners in accordance with paragraph 10 above; or

(b) is knowingly concerned with the combination of any game of bingo with other bingo contrary to section 19(2) of this Act,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable—

(i) on summary conviction to a penalty of the prescribed sum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both; or

(ii) on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.

(3) [F2 Where any person]—

(a) contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this Part of this Schedule or of regulations, or

(b) fails to comply with any requirement made of him by or under any such provision,

[F3 his contravention or failure to comply shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties).]

F4 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by Finance Act 1988 (c. 39, SIF 40:1), s. 12(1)(c)(6)

F2 Words in Sch. 3 para. 16(3) substituted (1.1.1995) by 1994 c. 9, s. 9, Sch. 4 Pt. V para. 64(1)(a) (with s. 19(3)); S.I. 1994/2679, art. 3.

F3 Words in Sch. 3 para. 16(3) substituted (1.1.1995) by 1994 c. 9, s. 9, Sch. 4 Pt. V para. 64(1)(b) (with s. 19(3)); S.I. 1994/2679, art. 3.

F4 Sch. 3 para. 16(4) repealed (1.1.1995) by 1994 c. 9, s. 258, Sch. 4 Pt. V para. 64(2), Sch. 26 Pt. III Note (with s. 19(3)); S.I. 1994/2679, art. 3.

17 (1) If a justice of the peace or, in Scotland, a justice (within the meaning of section 462 of the M1 Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975) is satisfied on information on oath that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that an offence under paragraph 16 above is being, has been, or is about to be committed on any premises, he may issue a warrant in writing authorising any officer to enter those premises (if necessary by force) at any time within [F5 one month] from the time of the issue of the warrant and search them.

(2) An officer who enters premises under the authority of such a warrant may—

(a) seize and remove any books, records, accounts, documents, money or valuable thing, and any instrument, device, apparatus or other thing whatsoever found on the premises, which he has reasonable cause to believe may be required as evidence for the purposes of proceedings in respect of such an offence, and

(b) search any person found on the premises whom he has reasonable cause to believe to be concerned with the promotion of bingo or, as the case may be, with the management of any premises used for the purpose of playing bingo.

Textual Amendments

F5 Words substituted by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 119, Sch. 6 Pt. II para. 39(c)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 3 para. 17(2) powers of seizure extended (1.4.2003) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 50, 55-55, 68, 138(2), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 28; S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(a)(j)

C2 Power(s) of seizure extended (1.4.2003) by Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (c. 16), ss. 50, 52-54, 68, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 28; S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(a)(c)(j)

Marginal Citations

M1 1975 c. 21(39:1).