Greyhound Industry Act, 1958

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Fixing of certain charges.

48.—(1) The Board may by regulations fix the maximum charges to be made for admitting persons to greyhound race tracks and different charges may be fixed in respect of different tracks, in respect of different parts of the same track and in respect of bookmakers carrying on their business and persons who are not such bookmakers.

(2) Where regulations under subsection (1) of this section fix, in relation to a greyhound race track or part thereof, maximum charges in respect of bookmakers carrying on their business which are more than five times the maximum charges fixed, in relation to the track or part, by the regulations (or by other regulations for the time being in force) in respect of persons who are not such bookmakers, the regulations shall require the consent of the Minister.

(3) Where regulations under subsection (1) of this section fix, in relation to a greyhound race track on which the Board maintains a totalisator or to part of such track, maximum charges in respect of bookmakers carrying on their business, the charges shall be so fixed as not to exceed ten times the charges fixed by the regulations (or by other regulations for the time being in force) in respect of persons who are not bookmakers or, in case regulations under subsection (7) of this section for the time being in force fix a minimum charge in relation to the track or part, the aggregate of ten times the said charges in respect of persons who are not bookmakers and that minimum charge.

(4) Notwithstanding that regulations under subsection (1) of this section fix, in relation to a greyhound race track or part thereof, maximum charges in respect of bookmakers carrying on their business, any bookmaker may, with his consent, be charged, for admission to the track or part, a charge exceeding that which would be appropriate in accordance with the regulations, and such charge shall not constitute a contravention of the regulations.

(5) The Board may by regulations fix the maximum charges to be made at greyhound race tracks for race cards.

(6) The Board may by regulations fix the maximum entry fees in respect of greyhounds competing at events at race meetings at greyhound race tracks and different fees may be fixed in respect of different tracks and in respect of different meetings and events at the same track.

(7) (a) The Board may by regulations fix the minimum charges to be made for admitting bookmakers carrying on their business to greyhound race tracks and different charges may be fixed in respect of different tracks and different parts of the same track.

(b) Regulations under this subsection shall not be made in relation to a greyhound race track or part thereof unless regulations under subsection (1) of this section are made at the same time (or have been made previously) in relation to the track or part.

(c) The operation of regulations under this subsection shall stand suspended during any period while sections 32 to 35 of this Act are in operation.

(d) Where—

(i) a charge for admitting a bookmaker carrying on his business to a greyhound race track is made, and

(ii) regulations under this subsection are for the time being in operation,

the licensee under the greyhound race track licence relating to the track shall pay to the Board a sum equal to the minimum charge for the admission which is appropriate in accordance with the regulations.

(8) The Board may, after consultation with the Club, by regulations fix the maximum charges to be made for admitting persons to authorised coursing meetings and different charges may be fixed in respect of different meetings, in respect of different parts of the same coursing ground and in respect of bookmakers carrying on their business and persons who are not such bookmakers.

(9) Where regulations under subsection (8) of this section fix, in relation to an authorised coursing meeting, maximum charges in respect of bookmakers carrying on their business which are more than five times the maximum charges fixed, in relation to the meeting, by the regulations (or by other regulations for the time being in force) in respect of persons who are not such bookmakers, the regulations shall require the consent of the Minister.

(10) The Board may, after consultation with the Club, by regulations fix the maximum entry fees in respect of greyhounds competing at events at authorised coursing meetings and different fees may be fixed in respect of different coursing grounds and in respect of different meetings and events at the same coursing ground.

(11) (a) The Board may by regulations fix the minimum charges to be made for admitting bookmakers carrying on their business to authorised coursing meetings and different charges may be fixed in respect of different meetings and different parts of the same coursing ground.

(b) Regulations under this subsection shall not be made in relation to an authorised coursing meeting unless regulations under subsection (8) of this section are made at the same time (or have been made previously) in relation to the meeting.

(c) The operation of regulations under this subsection shall stand suspended during any period while sections 32 to 35 of this Act are in operation.

(d) Where—

(i) a charge for admitting a bookmaker carrying on his business to an authorised coursing meeting is made, and

(ii) regulations under this subsection are for the time being in operation,

the person holding the meeting shall pay to the Board a sum equal to the minimum charge for the admission which is appropriate in accordance with the regulations.

(12) The Board, after consultation with the Club, may by regulations fix the maximum charges to be made at authorised coursing meetings for programmes and different charges may be fixed in respect of different meetings.

(13) The Board may by regulations fix the maximum charges to be made for admitting persons to public sales of greyhounds and different charges may be fixed in respect of different sales.

(14) The Board may by regulations fix the maximum charges to be made for catalogues at public sales of greyhounds and different charges may be fixed in respect of different sales.

(15) Every person who fails or neglects to pay any sum payable by him under paragraph (d) of subsection (7) or paragraph (d) of subsection (11) of this section shall, without prejudice to proceedings under subsection (17) or (18) of this section, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.

(16) Every sum payable by any person under paragraph (d) of subsection (7) or paragraph (d) of subsection (11) of this section shall, in default of payment and without prejudice to proceedings under subsection (17) or (18) of this section, be recoverable by the Board as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(17) If, in relation to a greyhound race track, there is a contravention of any regulation under subsection (1), (5), (6) or (7)of this section, the licensee under the greyhound race track licence relating to the track shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.

(18) If, in relation to an authorised coursing meeting, there is a contravention of any regulation under subsection (8), (10), (11) or (12) of this section, the person holding the meeting shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.

(19) If, in relation to a public sale of greyhounds there is a contravention of any regulation under subsection (13) or (14) of this section, the person conducting the sale shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.