Knyvett v Christchurch Casinos Ltd

999 999 or triple nine most often refers to: * 999 (emergency telephone number), a telephone number for the emergency services in several countries * 999 (number), an integer * AD 999, a year * 999 BC, a year Books * ''999'' (anthology) or ''999: ...

2 NZLR 559 is a cited case in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

regarding whether a

contract A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that creates, defines, and governs mutual rights and obligations between them. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to tran ...

illegal under statute, can be subsequently validated under the

Illegal Contracts Act 1970 The Illegal Contracts Act 970'' is a New Zealand law that manages how contracts are deemed illegal under either common law or under Statute. Under this law, all such contracts are deemed illegal, but it gives wide discretionary powers to grant r ...

Background

Polglase won a $31,173.71 jackpot at the

Christchurch Casino Christchurch Casino is a casino in Christchurch, New Zealand, owned by Skyline Entertainment. The casino was New Zealand's first when it opened in 1994. The casino operates four hundred fifty slot machines and thirty-two table games. The prope ...

, however when the casino later discovered that he was only 18 years old, a minor, they refused to pay him out his winnings. The Casino argued that under the Casino Control Act 1990, gambling by a minor is illegal, and thus honouring any wager would be illegal under the Act. However, the Act only prohibited a minor being on the premises of a Casino, it did not go as far as stating any bets would be illegal as well. The casino successfully obtained a judgment from the High Court. Polglase, via his guardian Kynvett appealed.

Decision

The court refused to grant relief.

References

New Zealand contract case law 1999 in New Zealand law 1999 in case law Court of Appeal of New Zealand cases {{NewZealand-case-law-stub