ACT Treasurer Katy Gallagher, has tabled a new Unlawful Gambling Bill in the ACT Legislative Assembly which will improve the control and regulation of gambling and illegal gambling in the Territory.

The Treasurer said the Bill had been developed following a public review of the Unlawful Games Act 1984 by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission.

"The Government has accepted all of the Commission's recommendations in the drafting of this new Bill which updates and brings together for the first time all unlawful gaming and unlawful betting provisions into the one Act," Ms Gallagher said.

"The Bill makes all gambling unlawful, unless permitted under the Bill or another gaming law. This means that a decision to allow a new gambling activity that doesn't fit the current criteria must be taken, rather than taking action to close down undesirable or risky gambling activity after it has already commenced," she said.

"The Bill makes private gaming lawful and provides an approval scheme for charitable fundraising through gaming. It will also provide for games that are predominantly of skill such as Bridge, chess, backgammon and Scrabble, to be exempt from being an unlawful game," she said.

The Treasurer said the Bill also provided for the continuation of the ban on poker tournaments in clubs and hotels.

22 October, 2009