No law to regulate betting on races via satellite

Three man were yesterday cleared of organising illegal betting on horse races transmitted via satellite television after a magistrate ruled there was no law regulating such practice.

Peter Agius, 34, of Naxxar, Anthony Galea, 39, of Zabbar and Peter Azzopardi, 40, of Marsa were charged with organising illegal gambling at Flames Bar and Restaurant, in Marsa, on and before July 2003.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how the police had raided the venue and found television sets and items connected with racehorse betting through satellite TV.

The magistrate noted that in order for the charge to subsist it had to be proven that the bar did not have a licence to carry out gambling and that the bets were made in games of chance, that is, games that depended on luck and not skill.

Although it had been proven that the bar did not have a necessary licence, the magistrate noted that racehorse betting was not listed as a game of chance.

Apart from that there was no law that regulated gambling on races via satellite.

Police Inspector Silvio Valletta prosecuted.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio was defence counsel.