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Part 2Gambling
Prohibitions and authorisations

19Offences

  1. A person who does any of the following things commits an offence:

  2. participates in illegal gambling:
    1. is, without reasonable excuse, at a place where illegal gambling is occurring:
      1. conducts illegal gambling:
        1. offers or provides credit if the person knows or ought to know that the credit may be used to commit an offence under paragraph (a) or paragraph (c):
          1. accepts credit from a person with the intention that it be used to commit an offence under paragraph (a) or paragraph (c):
            1. makes a direct or indirect pecuniary gain from illegal gambling other than as a direct participant:
              1. promotes illegal gambling or assists in doing so:
                1. causes or permits a place to be used for illegal gambling:
                  1. advertises illegal gambling—
                    1. to inform the public of places where illegal gambling takes place or will take place; or
                      1. to invite the public to participate in illegal gambling or to seek information about opportunities to do so; or
                        1. to invite the public to commit money for illegal gambling or to seek information about opportunities to commit money for illegal gambling:
                        2. provides or installs gambling equipment if the person knows or ought to know that it is intended to be used for illegal gambling.

                          1. Every person who commits an offence against subsection (1)(a) or (b) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

                          2. Every person who commits an offence against subsection (1)(c) to (j) is liable on conviction,—

                          3. in the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or to a fine not exceeding $20,000:
                            1. in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $50,000.

                              1. An individual may not be convicted of an offence under subsection (1)(a) for placing a bet with an offshore betting operator (as defined in section 105 of the Racing Industry Act 2020) in contravention of section 74AAA of the Racing Industry Act 2020.

                              Notes
                              • Section 19(2): amended, on , by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).
                              • Section 19(3): amended, on , by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).
                              • Section 19(4): inserted, on , by section 22 of the Racing Industry Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 32).