Prevention of Gambling Act, 1977

Enacted in 1977 while a Proclamation of Emergency was in force, this Act targets gambling and 'common gaming-houses.' A footnote in the extract states that the Act ceased to have effect from 15 March 1978, when that Emergency was revoked, except within the Islamabad Capital Territory, so its current applicability outside Islamabad should be checked against the official text. Section 2 defines a 'common gaming-house' as any place where gaming instruments are kept for profit, or used for gaming on numbers, dates or natural events, and defines 'gaming' to include wagering or betting, including on horse races.

Section 3 penalises owning, keeping, managing or financing a common gaming-house with imprisonment of one month to one year, or a fine of one hundred to one thousand rupees, or both; the prosecution does not need to prove the accused was actually playing for money. Section 4 penalises being found gaming inside such a house with imprisonment up to one year or a fine up to five thousand rupees, or both, and anyone present during gaming is presumed to have been there to gamble unless they prove otherwise. Section 5 penalises gaming in a public place with imprisonment up to one year or a fine up to five hundred rupees, or both, while Section 6 penalises gaming in a private place with imprisonment up to two years or a fine up to one thousand rupees, or both. Section 7 raises the punishment for repeat offenders to imprisonment up to three years or a fine up to two thousand rupees, or both.

Section 8 lets a Magistrate authorise police to enter, search, and seize property at a suspected gaming house, with a special procedure to give notice to a woman occupant observing purdah before entry. Section 9 creates a legal presumption that a place with gaming equipment is a common gaming-house and that people found there were gambling. Section 11 exempts games played in a licensed Tourist Complex open only to foreigners.