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GAMBLING MACHINES DECREE, 1973 (NRCD
174)
As amended
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
1. Control of imports
2. Control of sales, hiring, etc.
3. Gambling machines to be
licensed
4. Duration of licences
5. Conditions of licences
6. Revocation of licences
6A.Tax to be paid.
7. Restriction on use of machines
8. Persons under 18 prohibited
9. Forfeiture of unlicensed
machines
10. Forfeiture of illegally
imported machines
11. Forfeiture of machines whose
owner cannot be found
12. Seizure in case of suspected
offence
13. Disposal of seized and
forfeited machines
14. Further powers of the
Commissioner
15. Defective machines not to be
used
16. Offences
17. Exemptions
18. Regulations
19. Application of Decree
20. Interpretation
20a. Repeal.
SCHEDULES
First Schedule—Application for
consent to import gambling machine
Second Schedule—Application for
consent to sell, let on hire or
otherwise dispose of a gambling
machine or any interest therein
Third Schedule—Application for
licence to install or operate a
gambling machine
IN pursuance of the National
Redemption Council (Establishment)
Proclamation, 1972, this Decree is
hereby made:
Section 1—Control of Imports.
(1) No person shall import a
gambling machine into Ghana
without the prior consent in
writing of the Commissioner
responsible for Internal Affairs.
(2) Application for a consent
under this section shall be made
in the form contained in the First
Schedule and shall be accompanied
with a fee of ¢500,000; [As
substituted by the Gambling
Machines (Amendment) Act, 2001
(Act 610), s. 1(a)].
(3) The grant or refusal of a
consent under this section shall
be in the absolute discretion of
the Commissioner.
(4) A consent given under this
section shall be in addition to
the requirements of any other law
relating to importation.
Section 2—Control of Sales,
Hiring, Etc.
(1) No person shall sell, let on
hire or in any way dispose of a
gambling machine or any interest
therein to any other person
without the prior consent in
writing of the Commissioner.
(2) Application for a consent
under this section shall be made
in the form contained in the
Second Schedule.
Section 3—Gambling Machines to be
Licensed.
(1) No person shall instal or
operate a gambling machine except
in accordance with a licence
granted by the Commissioner.
(2) Application for a licence
under this section shall be made
by the true owner of the gambling
machine in the form contained in
the Third Schedule and shall be
accompanied with a fee of
¢500,000. [As substituted by the
Gambling Machines (Amendment) Act,
2001 (Act 610), s. 1(b)].
(3) A separate application shall
be submitted in respect of each
machine.
(4) The grant or refusal of a
licence under this section shall
be in the absolute discretion of
the Commissioner.
(5) A licence granted under this
section shall not be transferable,
and shall not authorise any person
other than the person named in the
licence to instal or operate the
gambling machine.
Section 4—Duration of Licences.
(1) A licence granted under
section 3 shall have effect for
twelve months from the date of
issue, and may be renewed on
payment of an annual renewal fee
of ¢200,000. [As substituted by
the Gambling Machines (Amendment)
Act, 2001 (Act 610), s. 1(c)].
(2) On the expiry of a licence
granted under section 3 the
licensee shall within seven days
surrender it to the Commissioner.
Section 5—Conditions of Licences.
(1) A licence granted under
section 3 shall be subject to such
terms and conditions as the
Commissioner may specify in the
licence.
(2) The Commissioner may at any
time in writing vary, revoke, or
add to the terms or conditions of
a licence, as he thinks fit.
Section 6—Revocation of Licences.
(1) The Commissioner may at any
time revoke a licence granted
under section 3—
(a) if he is satisfied that the
licensee has contravened or failed
to comply with any of the terms or
conditions of a licence or any
requirement of this Decree; or
(b) if he is satisfied that it is
in the public interest so to do;
or
(c) if the licensee is convicted
of any offence in relation to
gambling machines.
Section 6A—Tax to be Paid.
(1) Every person who is licensed
to operate a gambling machine
under section 3 shall pay to the
Commissioner of Income Tax a tax
of ¢20,000.00 per machine per
annum, and shall before operating
the machine deliver to the
Commissioner of Income Tax a copy
of his licence issued under
section 3 and a statement of the
number of gambling machines which
he maintains at any place.
(2) The tax imposed by this
section shall be payable by
quarterly instalments of ¢5,000.00
payable in advance on or before
1st January, 1st April, 1st July,
and 1st October in any year. [As
substituted by the Gambling
Machines (Amendment) Law, 1985 (PNDCL
129), s.1(a).]
(3) The Commissioner of Income Tax
or any public officer authorised
by him may—
(a) request in writing from any
person any information which he
considers reasonably necessary for
the purposes of giving effect to
this section;
(b) enter and inspect any premises
for the said purpose.
(4) The tax payable under this
section shall be a debt due to the
Government and recoverable as such
by the Commissioner of Income Tax.
(5) Any person who—
(a) fails without reasonable
excuse (proof of which shall be on
him) to pay the tax within the
period prescribed by this section;
or
(b) fails without reasonable
excuse (proof of which shall be on
him) to provide any information
requested by the Commissioner of
Income Tax under subsection (3) of
this section; or
(c) obstructs the Commissioner of
Income Tax or any public officer
authorised by him in the
inspection of any premises under
subsection (3) of this section,
shall be guilty of an offence and
liable on summary conviction
(without prejudice to any civil
liability for the recovery of the
tax) to a fine not exceeding
¢2,000.00 or to imprisonment not
exceeding twelve months or to
both.
(6) [Repealed by the Gambling
Machines (Amendment) Law, 1985 (PNDCL
129), s.1(b).]
(7) The Commissioner of Income Tax
may request from the Commissioner
returns of all persons licensed
under section 3 of this Decree.[As
substituted by the Gambling
Machines (Amendment) Decree, 1974
(NRCD 274), s.1].
Section 7—Restriction on Use of
Machines.
No person shall install or operate
a gambling machine except at a
place approved for that purpose by
the Commissioner.
Section 8—Persons Under 18
Prohibited.
No person shall permit any person
under the age of 18 years to use a
gambling machine, or to enter any
place in which a gambling machine
is used.
Section 9—Forfeiture of Unlicensed
Machines.
A
gambling machine which is within
Ghana on the commencement of this
Decree shall be deemed to be
forfeited to the Republic unless
within 28 days from such
commencement the true owner of the
machine applies for a licence
under section 3 and pays the
prescribed licence fee.
Section 10—Forfeiture of Illegally
Imported Machines.
A
gambling machine which is
illegally imported into Ghana,
whether before or after the
commencement of this Decree, shall
be deemed to be forfeited to the
Republic.
Section 11—Forfeiture of Machines
whose Owner Cannot be Found.
(1) Where the true owner of a
gambling machine is uncertain,
unknown or cannot be found, the
Commissioner may order any police
officer to seize that machine.
(2) A gambling machine seized
under this section shall be
forfeited to the Republic unless
within thirty days of such seizure
it is claimed by a person who
establishes to the satisfaction of
the Commissioner that he is the
true owner thereof.
Section 12—Seizure in Case of
Suspected Offence.
Where it is suspected that an
offence may have been committed in
relation to any gambling machine,
the Commissioner may order any
police officer to seize that
machine.
Section 13—Disposal of Seized and
Forfeited Machines.
(1) A gambling machine which is
seized under section 11 or 12
shall be retained in the custody
of the police until the
Commissioner otherwise directs.
(2) A gambling machine which is
forfeited under this Decree may be
seized by any police officer at
any time and at any place, and
shall be delivered forthwith into
the control of the Commissioner.
(3) A gambling machine which is
forfeited under this Decree shall
be disposed of in such manner as
the Commissioner may direct.
Section 14—Further Powers of the
Commissioner.
(1) The Commissioner may at any
time order any person to remove a
gambling machine forthwith from
any place which the Commissioner
considers to be unsuitable for the
operation of such machine.
(2) When the Commissioner refuses
to grant a licence for a gambling
machine under section 3, he may at
any time order any person to
remove it and deliver it into the
custody of the police.
(3) A gambling machine delivered
into police custody under
subsection (2) shall be retained
by the police until the true owner
of the machine disposes of it to a
person approved by the
Commissioner under section 2, or
until the Commissioner otherwise
directs.
Section 15—Defective Machines not
to be Used.
(1) No person shall operate, or
permit any other person to use, a
defective gambling machine.
(2) Where a gambling machine
becomes defective, the person
having charge of the operation of
that machine shall immediately
seal the slot or other apparatus
for the insertion of money into
the machine, in such manner that
the machine cannot be used by any
member of the public.
(3) For the purposes of this
section, a gambling machine is
defective if—
(a) it fails to pay prize money;
or
(b) it fails to pay the correct
amount of prize money; or
(c) its operations fail to comply
with any requirement of
regulations made under this
Decree; or
(d) its normal operations are
impaired in any other manner.
Section 16—Offences.
(1) Any person who—
(a) imports a gambling machine
without the consent required by
section 1; or
(b) sells, lets on hire or in any
way disposes of a gambling machine
or any interest therein without
the consent required by section 2;
or
(c) installs or operates a
gambling machine without the
licence required by section 3; or
(d) contravenes or fails to comply
with any of the terms or
conditions of a licence granted
under section 3; or
(e) obstructs or frustrates any
lawful seizure of a gambling
machine under this Decree; or
(f) fails to comply with any order
of the Commissioner given under
section 14; or
(g) operates, or permits any other
person to use, a defective
gambling machine contrary to
section 15; or
(h) wilfully alters any gambling
machine so as to render it
defective within the meaning of
section 15 (3),
shall be guilty of an offence and
liable on summary conviction to a
fine not exceeding ¢500 penalty
units or to imprisonment not
exceeding two years or to both.
(2) Any person who permits any
other person under the age of 18
years to use a gambling machine,
or to enter any place in which a
gambling machine is used, shall be
guilty of an offence and liable on
summary conviction to a fine not
exceeding ¢250 penalty units.
(3) Any person under the age of 18
years who uses a gambling machine,
or enters any place in which a
gambling machine is used, shall be
guilty of an offence and liable on
summary conviction to a fine not
exceeding ¢100 penalty units. [As
amended by the Gambling Machines
(Amendment) Act, 2001 (Act 610)
Section 1(d)].
Section 17—Exemptions.
The Commissioner may in writing
grant an exemption from any
provision of this Decree in
respect of a gambling machine
operated by a private association
or club, where he is satisfied
that the machine is used only by
the members of that association or
club and that the application of
any provision of this Decree might
cause hardship.
Section 18—Regulations.
The Commissioner may by
legislative instrument make
regulations—
(a) for the further control of
gambling machines;
(b) for the prevention of
fraudulent or dishonest practices
relating to gambling machines;
(c) regulating the payment of
prize money;
(d) prohibiting the importation or
use of any type of gambling
machine whose importation or use
is contrary to the public
interest;
(e) otherwise for carrying out the
principles and purposes of this
Decree.
Section 19—Application of Decree.
(1) This Decree shall have effect
notwithstanding the provisions of
the Customs and Excise Decree,
1972 (NRCD 114) or any other
enactment to the contrary.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection
(1), this Decree shall not render
lawful anything which is declared
to be unlawful by the Lotteries
and Betting Act, 1960 (Act 31) or
any other enactment relating to
gaming.
Section 20—Interpretation.
In this Decree—
"Commissioner" means the
Commissioner responsible for
Internal Affairs;
"defective" has the meaning
assigned to it in section 15 (3);
"gambling machine" means any
machine played for a prize by the
insertion of coins or tokens, and
includes, but is not restricted
to, machines of the type commonly
referred to as slot machines,
fruit machines, and one-arm
bandits;
"licence" means a licence to
instal or operate a gambling
machine.
Section 20A—Repeal.
Gambling Machines (Amendment) Act,
1994 (Act 470) is hereby repealed.
[Inserted and to be cited as the
Gambling Machines (Amendment) Act,
2001 (Act 610), s. 2].
SCHEDULES
(Section 1)
APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO IMPORT
GAMBLING MACHINE
1. Full name of applicant....................................................................................................
2. Address of applicant.........................................................................................................
3. Nationality of applicant....................................................................................................
4. Make of machine.............................................................................................................
5. Serial No...........................................................................................................................
6. Country of origin..............................................................................................................
7. Cost of machine................................................................................................................
8. Will the machine be imported
for resale? - Yes/No.
9. Proposed location of machine:
(a) Name of premises.............................................................................................................
(b) Town or
city...................................................................................................................
.
10. Total number of gambling
machines at present owned by the
applicant
...................................................................................
11. Source of funds for payment
for the gambling
machine...............................................
................................................................................................................................................
I
CERTIFY that the particulars given
in this application are true.
...........................................
................19............
SECOND SCHEDULE
APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO SELL,
LET ON HIRE OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE
OF A GAMBLING MACHINE OR ANY
INTEREST THEREIN
1. Full name of applicant...............................................................................................................................
2. Address of applicant......................................................................................................
3. Nationality of applicant..................................................................................................
4. Make of machine...........................................................................................................
5. Serial No........................................................................................................................................
6. Nature of proposed transaction.......................................................................................
7. Name and address of proposed
buyer/hirer/consignee.................................................
................................................................................................................................................
8. Nationality of proposed
buyer/hirer/consignee..........................................................................................................................
9. Present location of machine:
(a) Name of premises...........................................................................................................
(b) Town or city....................................................................................................................
10. Proposed location of machine:
(a) Name of premises............................................................................................................
(b) Town or city........................................................................................................
11. Number of present gambling
machine licence (if
any).................................................
12. Date of expiry of present
licence..................................................................................
I
CERTIFY that I am the true owner
of the gambling machine in respect
of which this application is made
and that the particulars given in
this application are true.
....................................................
Signature of applicant
.......................19.........
THIRD SCHEDULE
APPLICATION FOR LICENCE TO INSTALL
OR OPERATE A GAMBLING MACHINE
1. Full name of
owner............................................................................................................
2. Address of
owner....................................................................................................
3. Nationality of owner......................................................................................................
4. Make of
machine............................................................................................
5. Serial No........................................................................................................................
6. Date of
importation...........................................................................................................
7. Particulars of Import Licence............................................................................................
8. Country of
origin............................................................................................................
9. Cost of machine...............................................................................................................
10. Customs duty paid..........................................................................................................
(State amount, quote Receipt
Number and attach copy of receipt
if available)
11. Income Tax Clearance
Certificate No............................................................................
12. Particulars of previous
licence:
(a)
Number...........................................
(b) Issued by..........................................................................................................................
(c) Fee paid C.......................................................................................................................
(d) Date of
expiry..............................................................................................................
13. Present location of machine:
(a) Name of
premises..................................................................................................
(b) Town or
city...................................................................................................................
14. Proposed location of machine:
(a) Name of
premises...................................................................................................
(b) Town or city............................................................................................................
15. Is proposed location owned by
applicant?—Yes/No.
16. If "No", state how location is
acquired......................................................................
17. Total number of gambling
machines at present owned by the
applicant........................................................................................
I
CERTIFY that I am the true owner
of the gambling machine in respect
of which this application is made
and that the particulars given in
this application are true.
...................................................
Signature of applicant
...............19.......
Made this 27th day of April, 1973.
COLONEL I. K. ACHEAMPONG
Chairman of the National
Redemption Council
Date of Gazette Notification: 4th
May, 1973.
amended by
GAMBLING MACHINES (AMENDMENT)
DECREE, 1974 (NRCD 276).1
GAMBLING MACHINES (AMENDMENT) LAW,
1985 (PNDCL 129).2
GAMBLING MACHINES (AMENDMENT) ACT,
1994 (ACT 470).3
THE GAMBLING MACHINES (AMENDMENT)
ACT, 2001 (ACT 610).4
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