Section 13 of the Public Gambling Act, 1867 gives police the power to:

Section 13 provides that a police officer "may apprehend without warrant" persons found gaming in public at games not of mere skill, setting birds or animals to fight in public, or abetting such fights. The fine is imposed by the Magistrate, and destruction of seized instruments needs the Magistrate's order on conviction. The section gives no power to search private houses.