2021 Georgia Code
Title 16 - Crimes and Offenses
Chapter 12 - Offenses Against Public Health and Morals
Article 2 - Gambling and Related Offenses
Part 1 - Gambling
§ 16-12-21. Gambling

1. A person commits the offense of gambling when he:
   1. Makes a bet upon the partial or final result of any game or contest or upon the performance of any participant in such game or contest;
   2. Makes a bet upon the result of any political nomination, appointment, or election or upon the degree of success of any nominee, appointee, or candidate; or
   3. Plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, or balls.
2. A person who commits the offense of gambling shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Laws 1847, Cobb's 1851 Digest, pp. 819, 820; Ga. L. 1859, p. 59, § 1; Code 1863, § 4425; Ga. L. 1865-66, p. 233, § 2; Code 1868, § 4466; Code 1873, § 4541; Code 1882, § 4541; Penal Code 1895, § 401; Penal Code 1910, § 392; Code 1933, § 26-6404; Code 1933, § 26-2702, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1; Ga. L. 1970, p. 690, § 1.)

- Void status of gambling contracts, § 13-8-3.

Prohibition against contracts of sale for future delivery of cotton, grain, stocks, or other commodities where it is not intended that such commodities actually be delivered, § 13-9-3.

Parent's right of action against person playing and betting at game of chance with minor child for money or other value, § 51-1-18.

- For article, "Misdemeanor Sentencing in Georgia," see 7 Ga. St. B.J. 8 (2001). For note discussing organized crime in Georgia with respect to the application of state gambling laws, and suggesting proposals for combatting organized crime, see 7 Ga. St. B.J. 124 (1970).

Former Penal Code 1895, § 401 (see now O.C.G.A. § 16-12-21) apparently was designed to prevent gambling of any nature. Fleming v. State, 125 Ga. 17, 53 S.E. 579 (1906).

- Gambling transactions contravene public policy of Georgia and constitute obligations unenforceable in its courts. Gulf Collateral, Inc. v. Morgan, 415 F. Supp. 319 (S.D. Ga. 1976).

- Gambling is one thing and operating a gambling house is a kindred but entirely different thing; and different evidence is required to convict of these separate offenses. No absurdity or repugnancy is created by acquittal of gambling and conviction of operating a gambling house. McGahee v. State, 133 Ga. App. 964, 213 S.E.2d 91 (1975).

Game may be one of chance or skill for stakes. Fleming v. State, 125 Ga. 17, 53 S.E. 579 (1906).

It is not necessary that money be the stake. Alexander v. City of Atlanta, 13 Ga. App. 354, 79 S.E. 177 (1913).

- Evidence of gambling devices and expert testimony on the purpose of dogfighting was sufficient to support a conviction. Hargrove v. State, 253 Ga. 450, 321 S.E.2d 104 (1984).

Evidence that defendant was 400 miles from defendant's home shortly after dawn in a remote area of the state where dogfighting and gambling were taking place, that defendant was apprehended directly next to a pit where dogfighting was underway, and that the defendant was arrested with $899 on defendant's person was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to conclude that defendant was guilty of allowing dogfighting to take place and gambling. Barton v. State, 253 Ga. 478, 322 S.E.2d 54 (1984).

- When the state offered no evidence linking defendants to the area where dogfighting and gambling were taking place, but only showed that they were "brought back" from an undetermined place by an unidentified officer and searched next to the dog pit, evidence was insufficient to support convictions for dogfighting and gambling. Barton v. State, 253 Ga. 478, 322 S.E.2d 54 (1984).

- Generally, participation in gambling activities does not prevent recovery in tort for personal injuries in absence of causal relation between illegal act and injuries sustained. Johnson v. Thompson, 111 Ga. App. 654, 143 S.E.2d 51 (1965).

- Enhancement under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2T1.1(b)(1) was not applied for purposes of calculating defendant's sentence for tax evasion; although gambling was a crime under O.C.G.A. § 16-12-21, defendant's statement that the defendant failed to pay taxes on some poker winnings, even if such winnings were considered by the jury in acquitting defendant of racketeering and bribery charges, was not sufficient to find by a preponderance of the evidence that defendant received more than $10,000 in any given year from unlawful gambling. United States v. Campbell, F. Supp. (N.D. Ga. June 15, 2006), aff'd, 491 F.3d 1306 (11th Cir. 2007).

Cited in United States v. Crockett, 506 F.2d 759 (5th Cir. 1975); Dennard v. State, 265 Ga. App. 229, 593 S.E.2d 694 (2004).

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Editor's notes.

- In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, opinions under former Code 1933, §§ 26-6501 26-6502 are included in the annotations for this Code section.

- Certain fund-raising activities, often for charitable purposes and generally designated as "Las Vegas Night" or "Casino Night," constitute gambling or commercial gambling and the equipment used at these activities is gambling paraphernalia. 1983 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 83-48.

Magazine advertising contests are not per se illegal, but are illegal if they violate the lottery law. 1970 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U79-123.

If an individual signs the individual's name to an entry blank with a number on it and returns it to the magazine that is conducting a contest, the individual is not in violation of lottery or gift enterprise scheme statutes. 1969 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 69-58.

Conducting a raffle in this state violated former Code 1933, §§ 26-6501 and 26-6502 prohibiting lotteries regardless of how worthy the cause. 1969 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 69-37 (decided under former Code 1933, §§ 26-6501 and 26-6502).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 38 Am. Jur. 2d, Gambling, §§ 1 et seq., 22 et seq.

- 38 C.J.S., Gaming, § 131 et seq.

- Each bet or play at gaming on a single occasion, as constituting a distinct offense, 35 A.L.R. 89.

Constitutionality of statutes forbidding or regulating dissemination of betting odds or other gambling information, 47 A.L.R. 1135.

Punchboard as a lottery, 163 A.L.R. 1279.

Rights of owner of stolen money as against one who won it in gambling transaction from thief, 44 A.L.R.2d 1242.

Bridge as within gambling laws, 97 A.L.R.2d 1420.

Validity and construction of statute exempting gambling operations carried on by religious, charitable, or other nonprofit organizations from general prohibitions against gambling, 42 A.L.R.3d 663.

Construction and application of state or municipal enactments relating to policy or numbers games, 70 A.L.R.3d 897.

Validity, construction, and application of statute or ordinance prohibiting or regulating use or occupancy of premises for bookmaking or pool selling, 82 A.L.R.4th 356.