Betting and Lotteries Act 1934 explained

Short Title:Betting and Lotteries Act 1934
Type:Act
Parliament:Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long Title:An Act to amend the law with respect to betting on tracks where sporting events take place, including the law with respect to totalisators on horse racecourses; to authorise, subject to restrictions, the establishment of totalisators on dog racecourses; to prohibit betting on tracks with young persons and pari mutuel betting except by authorised totalisators; to amend the law with respect to lotteries and certain prize competitions; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.
Year:1934
Citation:24 & 25 Geo. 5. c. 58
Royal Assent:16 November 1934
Repeal Date:22 July 2004
Repealing Legislation:Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004
Status:repealed
Original Text:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/24-25/58/enacted

The Betting and Lotteries Act 1934 (24 & 25 Geo. 5. c. 58) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and had three sections: Betting, Lotteries and Prize Competitions, and General.[1]

The draft bill was presented to Parliament on 7 March[2] with the provisions passed on 27 March.[3]

Overview

Betting

Horse racing courses and greyhound tracks were forced to limit their race days to a maximum 104 per annum whereas previously they were able to race on an unlimited basis. On course bookmakers and totalisators were also restricted to betting on a maximum of 104 days per annum.

Power was given to local councils to issue (and revoke or refuse) the betting licences required and the 104 appointed days of trading must be published in advance. The racecourse and tracks were to charge on course bookmakers a specified admission price and it was illegal for under 18 to be involved in any betting organisation.

The issue of street bookmaking was not addressed which the press felt should have been. The restriction to 104 days was primarily brought in due to rapid growth of greyhound tracks after 1927 and the associated gambling implications that had followed.[4]

Lotteries and prize competitions

All lotteries were made unlawful with the exemption of small lotteries incidental to certain entertainment and private lotteries. Restrictions were made on certain prize competitions (i.e. in newspapers) and warrant rights were given to any constable to investigate premises that are suspected of breaking the restrictions.

This was primarily directed to combat the Irish Free State Hospitals' Sweepstake.[5] [6]

The official Act sections

Part 1 - Betting

Part 2 - Lotteries and Prize Competitions

Part 3 - General

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Betting and Lotteries Act, 1934. legislation.gov.uk. 12 April 2023.
  2. Web site: OUR PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT. "Betting And Gambling." Times [London, England] 8 Mar. 1934]. The Times.
  3. Web site: Our Parliamentary Correspondent. "Betting And Lotteries." Times [London, England] 28 Mar. 1934]. The Times.
  4. Book: Genders, Roy. NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. 0-7207-1804-X.
  5. "A terrible danger to the morals of the country": The Irish hospitals' sweepstake in Great Britain, 1930–87. Marie. Coleman. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Section C. 105. 5. 2005. 2010-07-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615122746/http://www.ria.ie/Publications/Journals/PRIA-Section-C/Buy-online/PRIA-Section-C-Volume-105-5--MARIE-COLEMAN--%E2%80%98A-ter.aspx. 2011-06-15. dead.
  6. Book: Coleman, Marie. The Irish Sweep — A History of the Irish Hospitals Sweepstake, 1930-87. University College Dublin Press. 2009. 978-1-906359-41-6.