Common Gaming Houses Act 1953
Akta Rumah Perjudian Terbuka 1953
Deals with the suppression of common gaming houses, public gaming, and public lotteries.
Read the copy (English) — PDF, 34 pagesBahasa Melayu — PDF, 46 pages
Copy of the official text captured from the Laws of Malaysia portal (AGC) on 26 October 2026. Always check the official portal for the authoritative current version. Amendments made after the official “last updated” date are published separately as amending Acts (Act A…) on the portal.
| Number | Act 289 |
|---|---|
| Type | Federal Act |
| Applies to | Federal |
| Subject | Criminal law & security |
| Year | 1953 |
| Official “last updated” | 1 January 2006 |
| Published by | Attorney General's Chambers — Laws of Malaysia portal (lom.agc.gov.my) |
| First enacted | 1953 (F.M. Ordinance No. 26 of 1953) |
| Revised | 1983 (Act 289 w.e.f. 18 August 1983) |
Long title
An Act relating to the suppression of common gaming houses, public gaming, and public lotteries.
Contents — Parts and sections
38 sections, headings copied from the “ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS” of the official text (copy of 26 October 2026). Read the full wording in the PDF.
Definitions: section 2 (Interpretation).
- s 1 Short title
- s 2 Interpretation
- s 3 Nuisance
- s 3A Specific game need not be stated or proved
- s 4 Offences relating to common gaming houses
- s 4A Assisting in carrying on a public lottery, etc.
- s 4B Offences relating to dealing in gaming machines
- s 5 Advancing or furnishing money for establishing or conducting
- s 6 Gaming in common gaming house
- s 7 Gaming in public
- s 8 Instigating, promoting, or facilitating gaming in public
- s 9 Buying lottery ticket
- s 10 Money paid recoverable
- s 11 Presumption against person selling lottery tickets, etc.
- s 12 Sales of lottery tickets void
- s 13 Responsibility of employers and overseers
- s 14 Arrest by employer
- s 15 Power to enter on premises
- s 15A Closure of premises
- s 16 Search warrant against premises
- s 16A Forfeiture of seized gaming machines
- s 17 Search warrant against persons
- s 18 Entry and search by Magistrate or senior police officer
- s 19 Presumption against house and occupier
- s 20 Presumption against house, occupier and owner
- s 20A Liability of office-bearers, etc.
- s 21 Order for demolition of structural contrivances for facilitating gaming
- s 21A Disconnection of supply of energy
- s 22 Protection of informers
- s 22A Protection of officers, etc.
- s 23 Offenders as witnesses for prosecution
- s 23A Agent to secure evidence
- s 24 Trial
- s 25 Binding over on second conviction
- s 26 Reward to informer
- s 27 Saving
- s 27A Power to license promotion and organization of gaming by a company
- s 28 Repeal
Schedules: FIRST SCHEDULE · SECOND SCHEDULE · THIRD SCHEDULE
Related laws
Betting and Sweepstake Duties Act 1948 (Act 201)Lotteries Act 1952 (Act 288)Police Act 1967 (Act 344)Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967 (Act 388)Electricity Supply Act 1990 (Act 447)Social and Welfare Services Lotteries Board (Dissolution) Act 1991 (Act 470)Betting Act 1953 (Act 495)Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593)
Federal Acts that this law's official text itself refers to (as “[Act N]”), most-referred first.
Amendment history
| Amending law | Short title | In force from |
|---|---|---|
| F.M. Ord. 60/1956 | The Settlements Nominated Council (Change of title) Ordinance 1956 | 01-09-1956 |
| L.N. 332/1958 | Federal Constitution (Modification of Laws) (Ordinances and Proclamations) Order 1958 | 13-11-1958 |
| Act 9/1959 | Common Gaming Houses (Amendment) Act 1959 | 31-12-1959 |
| Act 44/1965 | Racing Club (Public Sweepstakes) Act 1965 | 01-08-1965 |
| Act 29/1966 | Common Gaming Houses (Amendment) Act 1966 | 14-04-1966 |
| Act 17/1967 | Racing Club (Public Sweepstakes) (Amendment) Act 1967 | 06-04-1967 |
| Act A56 | Common Gaming Houses (Amendment) Act 1971 | 30-04-1971 |
| P.U. (A) 113/1977 | Federal Territory (Modification of Common Gaming Houses Ordinance 1953) Order 1977 | 01-02-1974 |
| Act 160 | Malaysian Currency (Ringgit) Act 1975 | 29-08-1975 |
| Act A577 | Common Gaming Houses (Amendment) Act 1984 | 20-01-1984 |
| Act A755 | Common Gaming Houses (Amendment) Act 1990 | 23-02-1990 |
| Act A1096 | Common Gaming Houses (Amendment) Act 2001 LAWS OF MALAYSIA Act 289 COMMON GAMING HOUSES ACT 1953 | 01-12-2001 |
Copied from the “List of amendments” printed in the official text. Amendments made after the text's “as at” date are not in this list — check the portal for later amending Acts.
Version history
| Captured | Language | Official “last updated” | Pages | SHA-256 | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 October 2026 | Bahasa Melayu | 1 April 2014 | 46 | a06ca5e9cb49 | PDF 0.5 MB |
| 26 October 2026 | English | 1 January 2006 | 34 | 292764f5ff7b | PDF 0.6 MB |
A new version is kept only when the official file changes (different SHA-256 fingerprint). Older versions are never overwritten, so you can see what the text said on an earlier date.
Official source
- Official text (English) ↗
- Official text (Bahasa Melayu) ↗
- Attorney General's Chambers — Laws of Malaysia portal (lom.agc.gov.my) ↗
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