IE
(LRC Revised)
Statutory Text (1 Articles)
Number 2 of 1956
GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT 1956
REVISED
Updated to 31 July 2023
Changes to legislation
as of 10 July 2026, there are changes to this Act which have not been implemented by the Revised Acts editorial team, see highlighted entries
here
. Note that some amendments may not be in force until commenced by a commencement order or other provision.
This Revised Act is an administrative
consolidation of the
Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956
. It is prepared by the Law
Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the
Law Reform Commission Act
1975
(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and
consolidation of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the
Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023
(25/2023),
enacted 20 July 2023, and all statutory instruments up to and including the
Courts
and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023
(S.I.
No. 389 of 2023), made 28 July 2023, were considered in the preparation of this Revised
Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,
the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,
undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature
of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from
any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email
to
revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number
2
of
1956
GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT 1956
REVISED
Updated to 31 July 2023
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Part I
.
PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL.
Section
1.
Short title and commencement.
2.
Definitions.
3.
Repeals.
Part II
.
GAMING.
4.
Unlawful gaming.
5.
Use of places
for unlawful gaming.
(Repealed)
6.
Gaming at
circus or travelling show.
(Repealed)
7.
Gaming at
carnivals.
(Repealed)
8.
Residence
qualifications for promoters of gaming.
(Repealed)
9.
Gaming on
licensed premises.
(Repealed)
9A.
Gaming permits
10.
Prohibition
of slot-machines.
(Repealed)
11.
Cheating.
(Repealed)
Part III
.
LICENSING OF AMUSEMENT HALLS
AND FUNFAIRS.
12.
Application of this Part.
13.
Adoption of this Part by local authority.
14.
Licensed amusement hall and funfair.
15.
Certificate for gaming licence.
16.
Notice of application for certificate.
17.
Hearing of application.
18.
Appeal in respect of application for certificate.
19.
Issue of licence.
19A.
Register of Gaming Licences.
20.
Display of notice by licensee.
Part IV
.
LOTTERIES.
21.
Prohibition
of lotteries.
(Repealed)
22.
Advertisement
of lotteries.
(Repealed)
22A.
Non-Application of Section 22.
(Repealed)
23.
Private
lotteries.
(Repealed)
24.
Lotteries at
dances and concerts.
(Repealed)
25.
Lotteries at
carnivals and other events.
(Repealed)
26.
Lotteries under permit or licence.
26A.
Non-Application of Section 26.
27.
Permits.
(Repealed)
27A.
Lotteries held in conjunction with certain events
27B.
Lottery permits.
28.
Lottery licence.
28A.
Matters to
take into consideration when making regulations under section 27 or 28.
(Repealed)
29.
Notice of
application for licence.
(Repealed)
30.
False statements on application for licence or permit.
31.
Hearing of application.
32.
Appeal in
respect of application for licence.
(Repealed)
33.
Lottery tickets.
34.
Prohibition
on taking or sending money or documents out of State.
(Repealed)
35.
Exemption from Betting Acts.
Part V
.
ENFORCEMENT, EVIDENCE AND
PENALTIES.
36.
Gaming and wagering contracts void.
37.
Seizure of gaming instruments.
38.
Power of entry of Garda Síochána.
39.
Search warrant.
40.
Arrest of offenders.
41.
Obstruction of Garda Síochána.
42.
Evidence of keeping place for unlawful gaming.
43.
Evidence of unlawful gaming.
44.
Offences.
45.
Offences in
relation to bodies corporate and unincorporated bodies.
(Repealed)
46.
Revocation of licences and permits.
47.
Forfeiture of gaming instruments.
48.
Destruction of documents.
49.
Postal packets containing unlawful documents posted in the State.
50.
Records, accounts and returns.
50A.
Regulations
51.
Exemption of Hospitals' Sweepstakes.
SCHEDULE.
Acts Referred to
Criminal Justice Act, 1951
No. 2 of 1951
Betting Act, 1931
No. 27 of 1931
Number
2
of
1956
GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT 1956
REVISED
Updated to 31 July 2023
AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO
GAMING AND LOTTERIES. [14
th February,
1956.]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS
FOLLOWS:—
Annotations
Modifications (not altering
text)
C1
Application of
collectively cited
Gaming and Lotteries Acts
restricted (27.02.2014) by
National Lottery Act 2013
(13/2013), s. 50, commenced as per s.
1(3).
Exemption of National Lottery
from Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 to 2013
50.
The Gaming and
Lotteries Acts 1956 to 2013 do not apply to the National Lottery.
C2
Application of
collectively cited
Gaming and Lotteries Acts
restricted (27.10.2008) by
European Communities (Financial Instruments Analogous to Prize Bonds)
Regulations 2008
(S.I. No. 419 of 2008), reg. 2
2. The Gaming and Lotteries Acts
1956 to 2003 do not apply to financial instruments which are analogous to
non-interest bearing securities created and issued by the Minister for Finance
under Part V of the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 (No. 47 of 1956),
in relation to which chance may be used to select particular securities for
prizes, issued by—
(a) another Member State,
(b) a regional authority in
another Member State, or
(c) a local authority in another
Member State.
C3
Application of
collectively cited Gaming and Lotteries Acts restricted (15.07.1986)
by
National Lottery Act 1986
(28/1986), s. 32, commenced on
enactment.
Exemption of National Lottery
from Gaming and Lotteries Acts, 1956 to 1979.
32.
— The Gaming and
Lotteries Acts, 1956 to 1979, shall not apply to the National Lottery.
C4
Application of Act
restricted (27/12/1956) by
Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956
(47/1956), s. 22(5), commenced on enactment.
Prize bonds.
2.
— …
(5) Nothing contained in the
Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1956 (No. 2 of 1956), shall apply in relation to prize
bonds.
Annotations
Modifications (not altering
text)
C1
Application of
collectively cited
Gaming and Lotteries Acts
restricted (27.02.2014) by
National Lottery Act 2013
(13/2013), s. 50, commenced as per s.
1(3).
Exemption of National Lottery
from Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 to 2013
50.
The Gaming and
Lotteries Acts 1956 to 2013 do not apply to the National Lottery.
C2
Application of
collectively cited
Gaming and Lotteries Acts
restricted (27.10.2008) by
European Communities (Financial Instruments Analogous to Prize Bonds)
Regulations 2008
(S.I. No. 419 of 2008), reg. 2
2. The Gaming and Lotteries Acts
1956 to 2003 do not apply to financial instruments which are analogous to
non-interest bearing securities created and issued by the Minister for Finance
under Part V of the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 (No. 47 of 1956),
in relation to which chance may be used to select particular securities for
prizes, issued by—
(a) another Member State,
(b) a regional authority in
another Member State, or
(c) a local authority in another
Member State.
C3
Application of
collectively cited Gaming and Lotteries Acts restricted (15.07.1986)
by
National Lottery Act 1986
(28/1986), s. 32, commenced on
enactment.
Exemption of National Lottery
from Gaming and Lotteries Acts, 1956 to 1979.
32.
— The Gaming and
Lotteries Acts, 1956 to 1979, shall not apply to the National Lottery.
C4
Application of Act
restricted (27/12/1956) by
Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956
(47/1956), s. 22(5), commenced on enactment.
Prize bonds.
2.
— …
(5) Nothing contained in the
Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1956 (No. 2 of 1956), shall apply in relation to prize
bonds.
Section
1.
Short title and commencement.
2.
Definitions.
3.
Repeals.
Part II
.
GAMING.
4.
Unlawful gaming.
5.
Use of places
for unlawful gaming.
(Repealed)
6.
Gaming at
circus or travelling show.
(Repealed)
7.
Gaming at
carnivals.
(Repealed)
8.
Residence
qualifications for promoters of gaming.
(Repealed)
9.
Gaming on
licensed premises.
(Repealed)
9A.
Gaming permits
10.
Prohibition
of slot-machines.
(Repealed)
11.
Cheating.
(Repealed)
Part III
.
LICENSING OF AMUSEMENT HALLS
AND FUNFAIRS.
12.
Application of this Part.
13.
Adoption of this Part by local authority.
14.
Licensed amusement hall and funfair.
15.
Certificate for gaming licence.
16.
Notice of application for certificate.
17.
Hearing of application.
18.
Appeal in respect of application for certificate.
19.
Issue of licence.
19A.
Register of Gaming Licences.
20.
Display of notice by licensee.
Part IV
.
LOTTERIES.
21.
Prohibition
of lotteries.
(Repealed)
22.
Advertisement
of lotteries.
(Repealed)
22A.
Non-Application of Section 22.
(Repealed)
23.
Private
lotteries.
(Repealed)
24.
Lotteries at
dances and concerts.
(Repealed)
25.
Lotteries at
carnivals and other events.
(Repealed)
26.
Lotteries under permit or licence.
26A.
Non-Application of Section 26.
27.
Permits.
(Repealed)
27A.
Lotteries held in conjunction with certain events
27B.
Lottery permits.
28.
Lottery licence.
28A.
Matters to
take into consideration when making regulations under section 27 or 28.
(Repealed)
29.
Notice of
application for licence.
(Repealed)
30.
False statements on application for licence or permit.
31.
Hearing of application.
32.
Appeal in
respect of application for licence.
(Repealed)
33.
Lottery tickets.
34.
Prohibition
on taking or sending money or documents out of State.
(Repealed)
35.
Exemption from Betting Acts.
Part V
.
ENFORCEMENT, EVIDENCE AND
PENALTIES.
36.
Gaming and wagering contracts void.
37.
Seizure of gaming instruments.
38.
Power of entry of Garda Síochána.
39.
Search warrant.
40.
Arrest of offenders.
41.
Obstruction of Garda Síochána.
42.
Evidence of keeping place for unlawful gaming.
43.
Evidence of unlawful gaming.
44.
Offences.
45.
Offences in
relation to bodies corporate and unincorporated bodies.
(Repealed)
46.
Revocation of licences and permits.
47.
Forfeiture of gaming instruments.
48.
Destruction of documents.
49.
Postal packets containing unlawful documents posted in the State.
50.
Records, accounts and returns.
50A.
Regulations
51.
Exemption of Hospitals' Sweepstakes.
SCHEDULE.