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Can you summarize 18 USC Chapter 61?
CRIMES > LOTTERIES
Short Summary
These legal documents govern various aspects of lotteries and related activities. They prohibit the importation or transportation of lottery tickets or any instrument representing a ticket, chance, share, or interest in a lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme offering prizes based on chance. They also prohibit the transmission of information for the purpose of procuring such tickets or shares. Violators may face fines or imprisonment. Additionally, the documents prohibit the mailing of lottery-related matter and the broadcasting of advertisements or information about lotteries. There are exceptions for fishing contests not conducted for profit, certain lotteries authorized by the State and conducted by not-for-profit or governmental organizations, and certain promotional activities by occasional and ancillary commercial organizations. The documents also address the role of postmasters or employees as lottery agents and the participation of financial institutions in lottery-related activities. Penalties for non-compliance vary depending on the specific offense. No specific penalties are mentioned for the exemptions. Overall, these documents aim to regulate and control the operation and promotion of lotteries in the United States.
Whom does it apply to?
Any person who brings lottery tickets into the United States, deposits them with an express company or common carrier for transportation, carries them in interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly deposits in the mail, sends or delivers by mail any letter, package, postal card, or circular concerning any lottery, acts as an agent for any lottery office, knowingly sends by mail or delivers any letter, package, postal card, circular, or pamphlet advertising any lottery, operates a radio or television station that broadcasts any advertisement or information concerning any lottery, participates in fishing contests, knowingly violates certain sections related to financial institutions
What does it govern?
Importing or transporting lottery tickets, mailing lottery tickets or related matter, acting as a lottery agent, broadcasting lottery information, fishing contests, participation by financial institutions
What are exemptions?
Fishing contests not conducted for profit, certain advertisements, lists of prizes, or other information about a lottery conducted by a State under State law, certain lotteries, gift enterprises, or similar schemes authorized or not prohibited by the State and conducted by not-for-profit organizations, governmental organizations, or as promotional activities by occasional and ancillary commercial organizations, transportation or mailing of lottery-related equipment, tickets, or material within a State or to an addressee in a foreign country where the lottery is authorized by the law of that foreign country
What are the Penalties?
Fine or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, imprisonment term up to five years for subsequent offenses, fine or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, fine or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, each day's broadcasting constitutes a separate offense, fine or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, fine or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both
Jurisdiction
U.S. Federal Government