Section 236 of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria. Gaming houses

(1) A person being the owner or occupier, or having the use of, any house, room or place, who shall open, keep or use the same for the purpose of unlawful gaming being carried on therein, and any person who, being the owner or occupier of any house, room or place, shall knowingly and wilfully permit the same to be opened, kept or used by any other person for the purpose aforesaid, and any person having the care or management of or in any manner assisting in conducting the business of any house, room or place opened, kept or used for the purpose aforesaid, is said to keep a common gaming house.

Unlawful gaming

(2) In this section, "unlawful gaming" includes roulette, every game of dice except backgammon, every game of card which is not a game of skill, the game known as chacha and other games of cowries, and any game the chances of which are not alike favourable to all the players, including the banker or other person or persons by whom the game is managed or against whom the other players stake, play or bet.

(3) Any person who keeps a common gaming house is guilty of a misdemeanor and is liable to a fine of one thousand naira or to imprisonment for two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(4) Any person other than the persons mentioned in subsection (1) of this section who is found in a common gaming house shall be deemed, unless the contrary is proved, to be there for the purpose of unlawful gaming and is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of ten naira for the first offence and for each subsequent offence to a fine of forty naira or imprisonment for three months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Section 236 of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria

Act structure