The consequences of such a declaration were that the police could enter the premises at any time without the issue of a warrant, and may seize gambling implements, money and securities.
The tribunal was created because the New South Wales parliament felt that the existing process in declaring a gaming house was ineffective.
The Police Minister in the New South Wales Legislative Council on 12 November 1987 said: “The current legislation which vests the Supreme Court of New South Wales with jurisdiction to declare premises as gaming houses has not proved to be as successful as had been hoped.
Police have not been able to obtain speedy declarations based on a reasonable suspicion of gaming being conducted on the premises.
The experience has been that the suspicion required to be shown is high and to make a declaration the Supreme Court has generally relied upon a successful raid or infiltration by the police.
The tribunal was abolished in 1998 when the Local Court of New South Wales was given the jurisdiction to make declarations.