§ 224

Bribery in sporting contests

Up to 5 years Fraud & Money None sentenced (FY2025) Ch. 11 · Bribery, Graft, and Conflicts of Interest

Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term

(a) Whoever carries into effect, to carry into effect, or with any other person to carry into effect any scheme in commerce to influence, in any way, by bribery any sporting contest, with knowledge that the purpose of such scheme is to influence by bribery that contest, shall be , or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

(b)

This section shall not be construed as indicating an intent on the part of Congress to occupy the field in which this section operates to the exclusion of a law of any State, territory, Commonwealth, or possession of the United States, and no law of any State, territory, Commonwealth, or possession of the United States, which would be valid in the absence of the section shall be declared invalid, and no local authorities shall be deprived of any jurisdiction over any offense over which they would have jurisdiction in the absence of this section.

(c)

As used in this section—

(1) The term "scheme in commerce" means any scheme effectuated in whole or in part through the use in of any facility for transportation or communication;

(2) The term "sporting contest" means any contest in any sport, between individual contestants or teams of contestants (without regard to the amateur or professional status of the contestants therein), the occurrence of which is publicly announced before its occurrence;

(3) The term "person" means any individual and any partnership, corporation, association, or other entity.

History: (Added Pub. L. 88–316, §1(a), June 6, 1964, 78 Stat. 203; amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)

Simplified explanation

It is a federal crime to carry out, attempt, or conspire (agree with others) to carry out a scheme to fix or influence a sporting contest through bribery. The scheme must use interstate or international transportation or communication, such as phones or the internet. It covers amateur and professional sports, as long as the contest was publicly announced in advance.