1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Gaming Clubs (Bankers' Games) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 and shall come into force on 1st April 2000.

(2) In the Regulations “the 1994 Regulations” means the Gaming Clubs (Bankers' Games) Regulations 1994(2).

2.—(1) Regulation 16 of the 1994 Regulations (baccarat) is hereby amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (7), for the words from “accept a wager” to the end there shall be substituted “accept either a wager of one or both of the kinds described in paragraph (7A) below or a wager of one or both of the kinds described in paragraph (7B) below.”.

(3) After paragraph (7) there shall be inserted the following paragraphs–

“(7A) The wager in the game of punto banco are–

(a)a wager (payable, if won, at odds of 19 to 20) that the banker’s hand will win the game; and

(b)wager (payable, if won, at odds of 8 to 1) that the banker’s hand and the player’s hand shall be equal at the end of the game.

(7B) The wagers in the game of punto 2000 are–

(a)a wager (payable at odds of 1 to 1 unless the banker’s hand wins with a total of six, in which case odds of 1 to 2 shall be payable) that the banker’s hand will win the game; and

(b)a wager (payable, if won, at odds of 8 to 1) that the banker’s hand and the player’s hand shall be equal at the end of the game.

(7C) The wagers described in paragraph (7A) above shall not be accepted in the same game as the wagers described in paragraph (7B) above.”.

(4) In paragraph (8), at the end there shall be added “, except that he need not make available both the wagers described in paragraph (7A) and those described in paragraph (7B).”.

3.—(1) Regulation (7) (blackjack) is hereby amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)(a), for “each of two” there shall be substituted “ one”.

(3) After paragraph (11) there shall be inserted the following paragraph–

“(11A) A licence holder may at his discretion require that there shall be at least two opposing players.”.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Section 13(1) of the Gaming Act 1968 prohibits the playing of bankers' games and games of unequal chance on premises licensed under that Act. Section 13(2) however, authorises the making of regulations to provide that this prohibition shall not have effect in relation to games specified in the Regulations, if so played as to comply with the Regulations.

These Regulations amend the Gaming Clubs (Bankers' Games) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/2899). The effect of the amendments is–

(a)to allow casinos to offer, instead of or as well as punto banco, a modified version of that game known as punto 2000;

(b)to allow, at the licence holder’s discretion, blackjack to be played by a single player playing only one hand.