Postmaster or employee as lottery agent [1]
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, being an officer or employee of the Postal Service, acts as agent for any lottery office, or under color of purchase or otherwise, vends lottery tickets, or knowingly sends by mail or delivers any letter, package, postal card, circular, or pamphlet advertising any lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme, offering prizes dependent in whole or in part upon lot or chance, or any ticket, certificate, or instrument representing any chance, share, or interest in or dependent upon the event of any lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme offering prizes dependent in whole or in part upon lot or chance, or any list of the prizes awarded by means of any such scheme, shall be or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 763 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 91–375, §6(j)(10), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778 (PDF, 12 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(B), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146 (PDF, 52 MB).)
1 Section catchline was not amended to conform to change made in the text by Pub. L. 91–375.
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime for a Postal Service officer or employee to act as an agent for a lottery, sell lottery tickets, or knowingly mail or deliver lottery ads, tickets, or prize lists.