Preamble .

Preamble

This is an Act to prohibit gambling and the keeping of gaming-houses, publicly or privately, within the Tripura State.

S.1. .

This Act may be called an Act relating to gambling or Act IV of 1336 T.E.

S.2. .

This Act shall, after it has been approved of by the Administrative Council, come into force within the limits of the Municipality of Agartala and at places at a distance of not more than five miles thereof from the date of its notification in the State Gazette. The member of the Home Department may, if he thinks fit, by a notification to be published in the State Gazette, extend the operation of this Act or any part of it to any other place within this State, and, may, if he subsequently deems it necessary, withdraw the operation of this Act, in whole or in part.

S.3 Definitions.

(a) “Gaming” does not include the betting upon a horse-race, when such betting takes place, as it ordinarily does, on the day on which such race is to be run.

(b) “Instruments of gaming” includes any article, prepared, procured and used for the purpose of carrying on or facilitating gaming. It includes the accounts book or register in respect of gaming or any other document by which such gaming

S.4. .

Whoever, being the owner or occupier or having the use of any house, tent, room, space, walled enclosure or vehicle, situated within the limits to which this Act applies, uses the same as a gaming house;

and whoever, being the owner or occupier of any such house, tent, room, space, walled enclosure or vehicle as afore

S.5. .

Whoever is found in any common gaming-house, playing with cards, dice, counters, money or other instruments of gaming or is found there for the purpose of gaming, whether playing for any stake or otherwise, shall be liable, on conviction before any Magistrate on the mere proof of his presence at the place aforesaid, to a fine not exceeding one hundred rupees or to imprisonment, simple or rigorous, for any term not exceeding one month.

If the Magistrate in charge of a division or a Magistrate invested with the powers of a first class Magistrate upon credible information and after such inquiry as he may think necessary, held or caused to be held by him at a place within his jurisdiction, has reason to believe that any house, tent, room, walled enclosure, space or vehicle is used as a common gaming house, he may either himself enter, or by his warrant authorise any officer of police, not below the rank of a sub-inspector, to enter, with such assistance as may be found necessary, by night or by day, at any time and in any circumstance, and by force if necessary, such place as aforesaid, and may either himself take into custody, or authorise such officer to take

S.7. .

When any card, dice, gaming table, cloth, boards or other instruments of gaming are found in any house, tent, room, space, walled enclosure or vehicle searched under the provisions of the last preceding section, or about the person of any of those who are found therein, it shall be evidence, until the contrary is made to appear, that such house, tent, room, space, walled enclosure or vehicle is used as a common gaming-house, and that the said instruments of gaming shall be deemed to be evidence of the offence committed by the persons found therein, although no play was actually seen by the Magistrate or police-officer, or by any person acting under the authority of either of them.

S.8. .

If any person found in any common gaming-house entered by any Magistrate or officer of police under the provisions of this Act, upon being arrested by any such  officer, or upon being brought before any Magistrate, on being required by such Magistrate or officer of police to give his name and address, shall refuse or neglect to give the same, or shall give any false name or address, he may, upon conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred rupees or to imprisonment, simple or rigorous, for any term not exceeding fifteen days.