§ 25 — Offence of financing unlawful gambling place

25.—(1) A person commits an offence if the person provides financing (whether money or a money equivalent) for any step taken in the process of organising or conducting an unlawful gambling place.(2) However, a person is not guilty of an offence under subsection (1) if the person proves, on a balance of probabilities, that at the time of providing financing, the person did not know, and had no reasonable cause to suspect, that the financing (whether money or a money equivalent) was for a step taken in the process of organising or conducting an unlawful gambling place.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), a person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) —(a)

shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years; but

(b)

where the person is a repeat offender, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $700,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.

(4) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) by engaging in conduct described in section 6(2), 8(3) or 10(2) —(a)

shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $200,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years; but

(b)

where the person is a repeat offender, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $300,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years.

(5) The following offences are each a countable offence for the purpose of the reference in subsection (3) or (4) to a “repeat offender”:(a)

an offence under section 3 or 4 of the Betting Act 1960 repealed by this Act;

(b)

an offence under section 4 or 6 of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1961 repealed by this Act.

(6) An offence under this section is an arrestable offence.

(7) Strict liability applies to an offence under subsection (1).

—(1) A person commits an offence if the person provides financing (whether money or a money equivalent) for any step taken in the process of organising or conducting an unlawful gambling place.

(2) However, a person is not guilty of an offence under subsection (1) if the person proves, on a balance of probabilities, that at the time of providing financing, the person did not know, and had no reasonable cause to suspect, that the financing (whether money or a money equivalent) was for a step taken in the process of organising or conducting an unlawful gambling place.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), a person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) —(a)

shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years; but

(b)

where the person is a repeat offender, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $700,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.

(4) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) by engaging in conduct described in section 6(2), 8(3) or 10(2) —(a)

shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $200,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years; but

(b)

where the person is a repeat offender, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $300,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years.

(5) The following offences are each a countable offence for the purpose of the reference in subsection (3) or (4) to a “repeat offender”:(a)

an offence under section 3 or 4 of the Betting Act 1960 repealed by this Act;

(b)

an offence under section 4 or 6 of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1961 repealed by this Act.

(6) An offence under this section is an arrestable offence.

(7) Strict liability applies to an offence under subsection (1).