Suppression of Lotteries Act 1698

II. After 29th Dec. 1699, no Person publicly or privately to keep open, &c. Lotteries.

Penalty £500.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That from and after the Nyne and twentieth Day of December which shall be in the Yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred ninety nine no Person or Persons whatsoever shall publickly or privately exercise keep open show or expose to be plaid at drawne at or throwne at or shall draw play or throw at any such Lottery or any other Lottery either by Dice Lotts Cards Balls or any other Numbers or Figures or any other Way whatsoever And that every Person or Persons that shall after the said Nine and twentieth Day of December exercise expose open or show to be plaid throwne or drawne at any such Lottery Play or Device or other Lottery shall forfeite for every such Offence the Sum of Five hundred Pounds to be recovered by Information Bill Plaint or Action at Law in any of His Majesties Courts at Westminster wherein no Essoigne Wager of Law nor any more than one Imparlance shall be allowed one Third part thereof to the Use of His Majesty His Heires and Successors one other Third part thereof to the Use of the Poor of the Parish where such Offence shall be committed and the other Third part thereof together with double. Costs to the Party that shall informe and sue for the same and the said Parties so offending shall likewise be prosecuted as Common Rogues according to the Statutes in that Case made and provided.