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945.02. Gambling
945.03. Commercial gambling
945.04. Permitting premises to be used for commercial gambling
945.05. Dealing in gambling devices
945.07. Gambling by participants in contest
945.08. Bribery of participant in contest
945.10. Prizes forfeited


945.02. Gambling

Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor:

(1) Makes a bet; or

(2) Enters or remains in a gambling place with intent to make a bet, to participate in a lottery, or to play a gambling machine; or

(3) Conducts a lottery, or with intent to conduct a lottery, possesses facilities to do so.

945.03. Commercial gambling

Commercial gambling, as listed below, is guilty of a Class I felony:

  • Participates in the earnings of or for gain operates or permits the operation of a gambling place; or

  • For gain, receives, records or forwards a bet or offer to bet or, with intent to receive, record or forward a bet or offer to bet, possesses facilities to do so; or

  • For gain, becomes a custodian of anything of value bet or offered to be bet; or

  • Conducts a lottery where both the consideration and the prize are money, or with intent to conduct such a lottery, possesses facilities to do so; or

  • Sets up for use for the purpose of gambling or collects the proceeds of any gambling machine; or

  • For gain, maintains in this state any record, paraphernalia, tickets, certificates, bills, slip, token, paper, writing or other device used, or to be used, or adapted, devised or designed for use in gambling; or

  • For gain, uses a wire communication facility for the transmission or receipt of information assisting in the placing of a bet or offer to bet on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of a bet or offer to bet.

945.04. Permitting premises to be used for commercial gambling

Whoever intentionally does any of the following is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor:

  • Permits any real estate owned or occupied by him or her or under his or her control to be used as a gambling place; or

  • Permits a gambling machine to be set up for use for the purpose of gambling in a place under his or her control.

945.05. Dealing in gambling devices

Whoever manufactures, transfers commercially or possesses with intent to transfer commercially either of the following is guilty of a Class I felony:

(a) Anything which he or she knows evidences, purports to evidence or is designed to evidence participation in a lottery or the making of a bet; or

(b) Any device which he or she knows is designed exclusively for gambling purposes or anything which he or she knows is designed exclusively as a subassembly or essential part of such device. This includes without limitation gambling machines, numbers jars, punch boards and roulette wheels.

945.07. Gambling by participants in contest

(1) Any participant in, or any owner, employer, coach or trainer of a participant in, any contest of skill, speed, strength or endurance of persons, machines or animals at which admission is charged, who makes a bet upon any opponent in such contest is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

945.08. Bribery of participant in contest

(1) Any person who, with intent to influence any participant to refrain from exerting full skill, speed, strength or endurance, transfers or promises any property or any personal advantage to or on behalf of any participant in a contest of skill, speed, strength or endurance is guilty of a Class H felony.

(2) Any participant in any such contest who agrees or offers to refrain from exerting full skill, speed, strength or endurance in return for any property or any personal advantage transferred or promised to the participant or another is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

945.10. Prizes forfeited

Anything of value received by any person as a prize in any lottery conducted in violation of this chapter shall be forfeited to the state and may be recovered in any proper action brought by the attorney general or any district attorney in the name and on behalf of the state.