Functions of the Board

(1) The duties and powers of the Board shall be to control and regulate gaming and to grant or revoke gaming licences under this Act. (2) For the purposes of performing its functions under sub- section (1), the Board shall have power to– (a) license premises for gaming; 11 (b) supervise the operation of licensees to ensure that licensees comply with the terms and conditions of their gaming licenses and with the provisions of this Act and of regulations made under this Act and with any applicable directives issued by the Board in accordance with this Act or regulations made under this Act; (c) inquire into the suitability of any person applying for any gaming license or approval under this Act or the regulations made under this Act and to ensure that those involved in the ownership, operation or management of, or employment in, a licensed gaming premises are fit and proper persons to carry out their functions relative to such licensed premises; (d) use all powers vested in it by this or any other law to ensure that games and gaming are kept free from criminal activity, and to prevent, detect and take all reasonable measures to ensure the prosecution of any offence against this Act or the regulations made under this Act; (e) advise the Minister on new developments, needs and risks in gaming and to make such proposals as may be deemed necessary or expedient to respond to those risks; (f) take enforcement action and cooperate with foreign regulatory authorities in accordance with this Act or the regulations made under this Act; (g) make regulations for the following purposes12 (i) prescribing specific areas where licensed gaming premises may be established; (ii) prescribing the form and contents of the application for a gaming licence; (iii) prescribing the criteria for eligibility for obtaining a gaming licence and setting a limit on the number of licensees; (iv) prescribing the terms and conditions to be attached to a gaming licence; (v) prescribing the fees to be charged for the issue of a gaming licence; (vi) prescribing the procedures to be adopted by the Board when taking enforcement action against a licensee; (vii) the determination of, or the method for determining, the amount of the administrative penalty that may be imposed for a disciplinary violation; (viii) controlling or regulating all matters connected with or incidental to gaming; (ix) prescribing the manner in which disputes between a licensee and any other person may be determined; (h) advise the Minister on the making of regulations under section 24; (i) enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements or memoranda of understanding with other local or overseas regulatory authorities, or 13 other government agencies, for various matters including but not limited to exchange of and forms of collaboration; (j) perform any other function as may from time to time be assigned to it by this Act or any other law or by regulations made thereunder. (3) Regulations made by the Board under this Act shall not come into force until they have been approved by the Minister. (4) Such Regulations may provide that any breach thereof shall be punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment or by an administrative penalty not exceeding fifty thousand dollars.