SB 156

Current law prohibits betting for something of value or conducting a lottery,

which is an enterprise wherein for a consideration the participants are given an

opportunity to win a prize, the award of which is determined by chance, even though

accompanied by some skill. A person may be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned

for not more than 90 days, or both fined and imprisoned for betting for something of

value or conducting a lottery. A person who is convicted of betting or lottery activities

that constitute commercial gambling may be fined not more than $10,000, sentenced

to a term of imprisonment (consisting of confinement followed by extended

supervision) that may not exceed three years and six months, or both fined and

imprisoned.

This bill provides that managing or participating in an office sports pool does

not constitute betting or conducting a lottery. Under the bill, an office sports pool is

a game in which all of the participants are employed by the same employer, the

consideration paid by each participant does not exceed $50, a prize is awarded based

on the results of a sporting event or a series of related sporting events, the prize is

all or any portion of the money provided by the participants as consideration, and the

person managing the game is a participant and does not manage the game for gain.