Section 27, The Summary Conviction Offences Ordinance

(1) (a) It shall be lawful for any Justice of the Peace,on the information, upon oath, of any credible person, to authorise, by warrant under his hand, any police constable to enter, by force if necessary, any house, room, place, or premises suspected to be used as a common gaming-house, and to take into custody all persons, and to seize all tables or instruments of gaming, and all moneys and valuable securities found therein; and on proof that such house, room, place, or premises has or have been used as a common gaming-house, every person found therein without lawful excuse shall, on being convicted thereof, be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of five pounds. (b) All such tables and instruments shall be destroyed, and all such moneys and valuable securities shall be delivered to the Accountant General and paid to the general revenue of the Colony. (2) (a) In default of otherevidence to prove any house, room, place, or premises to be a common gaming-house, it shall be sufficient to prove that it, or they, is, or are, kept or used for playing therein at any game of chance, and that a bank is kept there by any one or more of the players exclusive of the others, Summary Conviction Offences [Cap. 37 279 ~-------------------------------------------------------- or that the chances of the game played therein are not alike favourable to all the players, including, among the players, the banker or other person by whom the same is managed, or against whom the other players stake, play or bet. (b) Where any cards, dice, balls, counters, tables, or other instruments of gaming used in playing any game of chance are found in any house, room, place or premises suspected to be used as a gaming-house, or about the person of anyone who is found therein, it shall be evidence, unless and until the contrary is proved, that such house, room, place or premises is, or are, used, as a common gaming-house. (c) Where any constable who is duly authorised to enter any house, room, place or premises suspected of being used as a common gaming-house, is wilfully prevented from, or obstructed or delayed in, entering the same, or where such house, room, place or premises is or are found fitted or provided with any means or contrivance for concealing, removing, or destroying any instruments of gaming, it shall be evidence, unless and until the contrary is proved, that such house, room, place or premises is or are used as a common gaming-house.