It shall be unlawful for any person, or association of persons, within the District of Columbia to purchase, possess, own, or acquire any chance, right, or interest, tangible or intangible, in any policy lottery or any lottery, or to make or place a bet or wager, accept a bet or wager, gamble or make books or pools on the result of any athletic contest. For the purpose of this section, the term “athletic contest” means any of the following, wherever held or to be held: a football, baseball, softball, basketball, hockey, or polo game, or a tennis, golf, or wrestling match, or a tennis or golf tournament, or a prize fight or boxing match, or a trotting or running race of horses, or a running race of dogs, or any other athletic or sporting event or contest. Any person or association of persons violating this section shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 180 days, or both.
CREDIT(S)
(Mar. 3, 1901, 31 Stat. 1331, ch. 854, § 869; May 16, 1908, 35 Stat. 164, ch. 172, § 3; June 29, 1953, 67 Stat. 96, ch. 159, § 206c; Aug. 20, 1994, D.C. Law 10-151, § 105(k), 41 DCR 2608.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 22-1508.
1973 Ed., § 22-1508.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary amendment of section, see § 105(k) of the Omnibus Criminal Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 1994 (D.C. Act 10-255, June 22, 1994, 41 DCR 4286).
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 10-151, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 22-1702.
