Betting Act, 1931

Saving for bookmakers' assistants.

27.—(1) In addition and without prejudice to any provision of this Act permitting the registered proprietor of registered premises to employ clerks and assistants, it shall be lawful for a licensed bookmaker to employ any person as his assistant provided the following provisions are complied with, that is to say:—

(a) the person so employed was employed as his clerk or assistant on the 1st day of March, 1931, or is of or over the age of eighteen years, and

(b) such person acts as assistant to such licensed bookmaker only in either the personal presence of such licensed bookmaker or in registered premises of which such licensed bookmaker is the registered proprietor, and

(c) the remuneration of such person is not wholly or partly dependent on or calculated by reference to the amount of business done or profits made by such licensed bookmaker, and

(d) such person does not do for or on behalf of or as assistant to such licensed bookmaker any act the doing of which would render such person liable under this section to be deemed to be himself acting as a bookmaker within the meaning of this Act.

(2) A person who does any of the following acts for or on behalf of or as assistant to or clerk of a licensed bookmaker, that is to say:—

(a) invites or solicits persons to make bets with himself or with such licensed bookmaker, or

(b) announces the terms or odds on or at which he himself or such licensed bookmaker is willing to take bets in relation to any race, match, or other contest or in relation to any competitor in any such contest, or

(c) takes, makes, or negotiates any bet whether he purports so to do on his own behalf or on behalf of such licensed bookmaker,

shall, if such act is done elsewhere than on registered premises of which such licensed bookmaker is the registered proprietor, be deemed to be acting himself as a bookmaker within the meaning of this Act.

(3) A person who is employed by a licensed bookmaker as his assistant and whose employment is lawful by virtue of this section shall not be deemed to act or carry on business as a bookmaker within the meaning of this Act merely by reason of his being employed and acting as such assistant.