No. CS/CS/SB 1580
Filed under Criminal Justice.
Illegal Gaming; Repealing a provision relating to penalties and violations related to illegal gambling; authorizing a person who is ineligible for employment with the commission to submit a waiver request to the commission asking to be considered eligible for employment if the person possesses certain expertise or experience; revising the standards of conduct for current and former commissioners and employees of the commission; authorizing a slot machine licensee to apply to the commission to change the location of its designated slot machine gaming area under certain circumstances; providing criminal penalties for persons who stake, bet, or wager any money or other thing of value upon the result of certain games, contests, matches, races, or sports if such persons have knowledge that the outcome of the games, contests, matches, races, or sports is prearranged or predetermined; revising the criminal penalties for persons who rent or lease a house for gambling purposes, etc.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDThe bill makes keeping a gambling house a third-degree felony, up from a misdemeanor. It also criminalizes renting or leasing property for gaming purposes with similar felony penalties.
New laws target financial beneficiaries and service providers of illegal gambling operations. They face third-degree felonies and mandatory $50,000 fines for each violation of the statute.
Government employees who knowingly aid, facilitate, or conceal gambling house operations now face felony charges. Repeat offenses by these officials escalate to second-degree felonies.
The legislation creates a mandatory first-degree felony for trafficking more than 15 slot machines. It also criminalizes operating or promoting internet gambling and sports wagering.
AIKeeping a gambling house is now a third-degree felony for a first offense and a second-degree felony for repeat offenses, replacing the prior second-degree misdemeanor.
AIAnyone who benefits financially or provides services in furtherance of a gambling house violation commits a third-degree felony and must pay a $50,000 fine per violation.
AIGovernment employees who knowingly certify, license, approve, aid, facilitate, or conceal a gambling house operation commit a third-degree felony for a first offense and a second-degree felony for repeat offenses.
AILicenses may be summarily suspended or revoked if a controlling person or sole owner violates gambling laws, and a $75,000 fine may be imposed on the licensee.
AIKnowingly renting or leasing a place for gaming is now a third-degree felony for a first offense and a second-degree felony for repeat offenses, replacing the prior cross-reference penalty.
AIPlaying internet gambling is a second-degree misdemeanor, playing internet sports wagering is a second-degree misdemeanor for a first violation and a first-degree misdemeanor for repeat violations, and operating or promoting either is a third-degree felony.
AIPlaying in person or by the use of the internet at any game of chance by lot or with dice, cards, numbers, or hazards for money is a second-degree misdemeanor, and operating or promoting such games is a third-degree felony.
AICreates a mandatory first-degree felony for moving more than 15 slot machines, with escalating mandatory fines up to $500,000.