Playing Cards Act, B.E. 2486 (1943)

In the Name of His Majesty King Ananda Mahidol:

Regents;

(According to the Announcement of the President of the House of Representatives Dated 4th August B.E. 2480 (1937)

and Dated 16th December B.E. 2484 (1941)), Arthityathiparpa; Pridi Banomyong;

Given on the 17th Day of September B.E. 2486 (1943);

Being the 10th Year of the Present Reign.

Whereas the House of Representatives has passed a resolution that

it is expedient to revise the law on playing cards for more constraining and appropriateness;

Be it, therefore, enacted by the King, by and with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives, as follows:

Section 1

This Act is called the “Playing Cards Act, B.E. 2486 (1943)”.

Section 2

This Act shall come into force as from the date of its publication in the Government Gazette

Section 3

The Playing Cards Act, B.E. 2481 and the Playing Cards Act (No. 2), B.E. 2482 shall be repealed.

Section 4

In this Act:

“Playing cards” means the playing cards that made of paper, leather or other materials as prescribed by the Ministerial Regulation;

“Import” means import, or cause to import, of playing cards into the Kingdom, but not including an importation by a person controlling of any conveyance as transporter;

“Competent official” means an official appointed by the Director-General for the execution of this Act;

“Director-General” means the Director-General of the Excise Department.

Section 5

No person shall produce or import of playing cards without permission of the Director-General.

Section 6

No person shall make alteration or change or do any manner whatsoever to the playing cards produced by the Excise Department for sale as the playing cards.

Section 7 (2)

No person shall sell playing cards on course of business without license granted by the Director-General.

In granting of license, the applicant shall pay fee in an amount as prescribed by the Ministerial Regulation, but the license fee shall not exceed one hundred Baht and the fee to be paid for the substitution of license shall not exceed ten Bath each. The license is valid through the 31st December of the year of its issuance.

Section 8

No person shall possess more than one hundred and twenty playing cards or sell playing cards irrespective of their quantity, unless those playing cards have been produced by, or have been stamped with the seal of, the Excise Department.

Section 9

No person shall sell or having in possession for sale of the playing cards produced in violation of Section 6.

Section 10 (3)

The fee for stamping of the playing cards shall be collected at the rate as prescribed by the Ministerial Regulation with due regard to size and material those playing cards made of, but not exceeding thirty Baht per one hundred playing cards.

Section 10 bis (4)

The Minister may, for an import of playing cards, make a notification empowering the Customs Department to collect the fee for stamping of the playing on behalf of the Excise Department.

Section 11

No person shall possess printing image carrier for printing of playing cards without permission of the Director-General.

Section 12

The competent official shall, for the execution of this Act and Ministerial Regulations issued under this Act, have the power to enter into any place during sunrise and sunset so as to conduct a search.

Section 13

Any person who has been granted any permission under this Act shall act in compliance with the provisions of the Ministerial Regulations.

Section 14 (5)

Whoever violates Section 5 shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding ten years and to a fine in an amount of four times of the price of the playing cards of the same kind sold by the Excise Department; but in case of producing playing cards, a fine shall not less than two thousand Baht.

Section 14 bis (6)

Whoever violates Section 6, Section 8 or Section 9 shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding three years or to a fine in an amount of four times of the price of the playing cards of the same kind sold by the Excise Department but not less than five hundred Baht or to both.

Section 14 ter (7)

Whoever violates Section 7 shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding one month or to a fine of not exceeding one thousand Baht or to both.

Section 14 quarter (8)

Whoever violates Section 11 shall be liable to imprisonment from one year to seven years and to a fine from two thousand to fifty thousand Baht.

Section 15

Any person who has been granted any permission under this Act violates or fails to comply with the provisions of the Ministerial Regulations shall be liable to a fine of not exceeding two hundred Baht.

Section 16

The Court shall have the power to confiscate all playing cards and equipments used or possessed for use in the commission of an offence under this Act.

Section 17

The competent official shall have the power to suspend the license issued under this Act for the period of not exceeding six months if it appears that the licensee fails to comply with this Act or Ministerial Regulations or the determinations specified in the license.

Section 18

The Director-General shall, if he thinks fit, have the power to revoke the license of the licensee whose license has been suspended under Section 17.

Section 19

The Minister of Finance shall have charge and control of the execution of this Act and shall have the power to issue Ministerial Regulations prescribing the provisions to be complied with by the licensee and other acts for the execution of this Act.

Such Ministerial Regulations shall come into force upon their publication in the Government Gazette.

Countersigned by Field Marshal P. Pibulsongkram as Prime Minister

Note

2 As amended by Section 3 of the Playing Cards Act (No. 2), B.E. 2505 (1962).

3 As amended by Section 4 of the Playing Cards Act (No. 2), B.E. 2505 (1962).

4 As added by Section 3 of the Playing Cards Act (No. 3), B.E. 2534 (1991).

5 As amended by Section 5 of the Playing Cards Act (No. 2), B.E. 2505 (1962).

6 As added by Section 6 of the Playing Cards Act (No. 2), B.E. 2505 (1962).

7 As added by Section 7 of the Playing Cards Act (No. 2), B.E. 2505 (1962).

8 As added by Section 8 of the Playing Cards Act (No. 2), B.E. 2505 (1962).

Published in the Government Gazette Vol. 60, Part 69, dated 28th December B.E. 2486 (1943).