Johnson Act 

The Johnson Act, as amended, generally prohibits the manufacture, possession, use, sale, or transportation of 

any “gambling device” in Indian Country, the District of Columbia, and possessions of the United States. 15 

U.S.C. § 1175. It also requires all persons manufacturing, using, selling, transporting, or providing for the use of 

others to register with the US Department of Justice and certain disclosures when gambling devices are shipped. 

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq., includes an exception to the Johnson Act 

prohibition against gambling devices in Indian Country. The Johnson Act is enforced by the United States 

Department of Justice and all questions regarding the Johnson Act should be directed to the Department of 

Justice. 

Sections 

• Definitions, 15 U.S.C. 1171 

• Transportation Of Gambling Devices As Unlawful, 15 U.S.C. 1172 

• Registration Of Manufacturers And Dealers, 15 U.S.C. 1173 

• Labeling And Marking Of Shipping Packages, 15 U.S.C. 1174 

• Specific Jurisdictions Within Which Manufacturing, Repairing, Selling, Possessing ETC, Prohibited; 

Exceptions, 15 U.S.C. 1175 

• Penalties, 15 U.S.C. 1176 

• Confiscation Of Gambling Devices And Means Of Transportation; Laws Governing, 15 U.S.C. 1177 

• Nonapplicability Of Chapter To Certain Machines And Devices, 15 U.S.C. 1178 

 Definitions, 15 U.S.C. 1171 

As used in this chapter-- 

(a) The term "gambling device" means-- 

(1) any so-called "slot machine" or any other machine or mechanical device an essential part of which is a drum 

or reel with insignia thereon, and (A) which when operated may deliver, as the result of the application of an 

element of chance, any money or property, or (B) by the operation of which a person may become entitled to 

receive, as the result of the application of an element of chance, any money or property; or 

(2) any other machine or mechanical device (including, but not limited to, roulette wheels and similar devices) 

designed and manufactured primarily for use in connection with gambling, and (A) which when operated may 

deliver, as the result of the application of an element of chance, any money or property, or (B) by the operation 

of which a person may become entitled to receive, as the result of the application of an element of chance, any 

money or property; or 

(3) any subassembly or essential part intended to be used in connection with any such machine or mechanical 

device, but which is not attached to any such machine or mechanical device as a constituent part. 

(b) The term "State" includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. 

(c) The term "possession of the United States" means any possession of the United States which is not named in 

subsection (b) of this section. 

(d) The term "interstate or foreign commerce" means commerce (1) between any State or possession of the 

United States and any place outside of such State or possession, or (2) between points in the same State or 

possession of the United States but through any place outside thereof. 

(e) The term "intrastate commerce" means commerce wholly within one State or possession of the United 

States. 

(f) The term "boundaries" has the same meaning given that term in section 1301 of Title 43. 

[1992 Amendments. Pub.L. 102-251 added subsec. (f). 1962 Amendments. Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub.L. 87-840, S 

2, substituted provisions including machines and mechanical devices designed and manufactured primarily for 
gambling by the operation of which a person may become entitled to receive, as the result of chance, any money 

or property, for provisions which included machines or mechanical devices designed and manufactured to

operate by inserting a coin, token, or similar object, in par. (2), and inserted ", but which is not attached to any 

such machine or mechanical device as a constituent part", in par. (3). Pub.L. 87-840, S 3, substituted "the 

District of Columbia" for "Alaska, Hawaii". Pub.L. 87-840, S 3, added subsecs. (d) and (e).] 

Transportation Of Gambling Devices As Unlawful, 15 U.S.C. 1172 

(a) General Rule 

It shall be unlawful knowingly to transport any gambling device to any place in a State or a possession of the 

United States from any place outside of such State or possession: Provided, That this section shall not apply to 

transportation of any gambling device to a place in any State which has enacted a law providing for the 

exemption of such State from the provisions of this section, or to a place in any subdivision of a State if the 

State in which such subdivision is located has enacted a law providing for the exemption of such subdivision 

from the provisions of this section, nor shall this section apply to any gambling device used or designed for use 

at and transported to licensed gambling establishments where betting is legal under applicable State laws: 

Provided, further, That it shall not be unlawful to transport in interstate or foreign commerce any gambling 

device into any State in which the transported gambling device is specifically enumerated as lawful in a statute 

of that State. 

(b) Authority of Federal Trade Commission 

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to interfere with or reduce the authority, or the existing interpretation 

of the authority, of the Federal Trade Commission under the Federal Trade Commission Act. 

(c) Exception 

This section does not prohibit the transport of a gambling device to a place in a State or a possession of the 

United States on a vessel on a voyage, if-- (1) use of the gambling device on a portion of that voyage is, by 

reason of subsection (b) of section 1175 of this title, not a violation of that section; and (2) the gambling device 

remains on board that vessel while in that State. 

[1992 Amendments. Pub.L. 102-251, S 202(a)(1), (3), (4), designated existing provisions as subsecs. (a) and 

(b), inserted headings, and added subsec. (c). Pub.L. 102-251, S 202(a)(2), which directed that ", District of 

Columbia," be struck out in subsec. (a), was executed by striking out ", the District of Columbia," after "place in 

a State" and "outside of such State" to reflect the probable intent of Congress. 1962 Amendments. Pub.L. 87-

840 excepted gambling devices used or designed for use at and transported to licensed gambling establishments 

where betting is legal under State laws, and provided that it shall not be unlawful to transport such devices into 

any State in which the device is specifically enumerated as lawful in a State statute.] 

Registration Of Manufacturers And Dealers, 15 U.S.C. 1173 

(a) Activities requiring registration; contents of registration statement 

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the business of manufacturing gambling devices, if the 

activities of such business in any way affect interstate or foreign commerce, to manufacture any gambling 

device during any calendar year, unless, after November 30 of the preceding calendar year, and before the date 

on which such device is manufactured, such person has registered with the Attorney General under this 

subsection, regardless of whether such device ever enters interstate or foreign commerce. 

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person during any calendar year to engage in the business of repairing, 

reconditioning, buying, selling, leasing, using, or making available for use by others any gambling device, if in 

such business he sells, ships, or delivers any such device knowing that it will be introduced into interstate or 

foreign commerce after the effective date of the Gambling Devices Act of 1962, unless, after November 30 of 

the preceding calendar year, and before the date such sale, shipment, or delivery occurs, such person has 

registered with the Attorney General under this subsection. 
(3) It shall be unlawful for any person during any calendar year to engage in the business of repairing, 

reconditioning, buying, selling, leasing, using, or making available for use by others any gambling device, if in 

such business he buys or receives any such device knowing that it has been transported in interstate or foreign 

commerce after the effective date of the Gambling Devices Act of 1962, unless, after November 30, of the 

preceding calendar year and before the date on which he buys or receives such device, such person has 

registered with the Attorney General under this subsection. 

(4) Each person who registers with the Attorney General pursuant to this subsection shall set forth in such 

registration (A) his name and each trade name under which he does business, (B) the address of each of his 

places of business in any State or possession of the United States, (C) the address of a place, in a State or 

possession of the United States in which such a place of business is located, where he will keep all records 

required to be kept by him by subsection (c) of this section, and (D) each activity described in paragraph (1), 

(2), or (3) of this subsection which he intends to engage in during the calendar year with respect to which such 

registration is made. 

(b) Numbering of devices 

(1) Every manufacturer of a gambling device defined in paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of section 1171 of this title 

shall number seriatim each such gambling device manufactured by him and permanently affix on each such

device, so as to be clearly visible, such number, his name, and, if different, any trade name under which he does 

business, and the date of manufacture of such device. 

(2) Every manufacturer of a gambling device defined in paragraph (a)(3) of section 1171 of this title shall, if the 

size of such device permits it, number seriatim each such gambling device manufactured by him and 

permanently affix on each such device, so as to be clearly visible, such number, his name, and, if different, any 

trade name under which he does business, and the date of manufacture of such device. 

(c) Records; required information 

(1) Every person required to register under subsection (a) of this section for any calendar year shall, on and after 

the date of such registration or the first day of such year (whichever last occurs), maintain a record by calendar 

month for all periods thereafter in such year of-- 

(A) each gambling device manufactured, purchased, or otherwise acquired by him, 

(B) each gambling device owned or possessed by him or in his custody, and 

(C) each gambling device sold, delivered, or shipped by him in intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce. 

(2) Such record shall show-- 

(A) in the case of each such gambling device defined in paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of section 1171 of this title, 

the information which is required to be affixed on such gambling device by subsection (b)(1) of this section; 

and 

(B) in the case of each such gambling device defined in paragraph (a)(3) of section 1171 of this title, the 

information required to be affixed on such gambling device by subsection (b)(2) of this section, or, if such 

gambling device does not have affixed on it any such information, its catalog listing, description, and, in the 

case of each such device owned or possessed by him or in his custody, its location. Such record shall also show 

(i) in the case of any such gambling device described in paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection, the name and 

address of the person from whom such device was purchased or acquired and the name and address of the 

carrier; and (ii) in the case of any such gambling device described in paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection, the 

name and address of the buyer and consignee thereof and the name and address of the carrier. 

(d) Retention of records 

Each record required to be maintained under this section shall be kept by the person required to make it at the 

place designated by him pursuant to subsection (a)(4)(C) of this section for a period of at least five years from 

the last day of the calendar month of the year with respect to which such record is required to be maintained. 

(e) Dealing in, owning, possessing, or having custody of devices not marked or numbered; false entries in 

records 

(1) It shall be unlawful (A) for any person during any period in which he is required to be registered under 
subsection (a) of this section to sell, deliver, or ship in intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce or own, 

possess, or have in his custody any gambling device which is not marked and numbered as required by 

subsection (b) of this section; or (B) for any person to remove, obliterate, or alter any mark or number on any 

gambling device required to be placed thereon by such subsection (b). 

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to make or cause to be made, any false entry in any record 

required to be kept under this section. 

(f) Authority of Federal Bureau of Investigation 

Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall, at any place designated pursuant to subsection (a)(4)(C) of 

this section by any person required to register by subsection (a) of this section, at all reasonable times, have 

access to and the right to copy any of the records required to be kept by this section, and, in case of refusal by 

any person registered under such subsection (a) to allow inspection and copying of such records, the United 

States district court for the district in which such place is located shall have jurisdiction to issue an order 

compelling production of such records for inspection or copying. 

[ 1962 Amendments. Pub.L. 87-840 amended section generally. Prior to such amendment, section provided 

that: "Upon first engaging in business, and thereafter on or before the 1st day of July of each year, every 

manufacturer of and dealer in gambling devices shall register with the Attorney General his name or trade 

name, the address of his principal place of business, and the addresses of his places of business in such district. 

On or before the last day of each month every manufacturer of and dealer in gambling devices shall file with the 

Attorney General an inventory and record of all sales and deliveries of gambling devices as of the close of the 

preceding calendar month for the place or places of business in the district. The monthly record of sales and 

deliveries of such gambling devices shall show the mark and number identifying each article together with the 

name and address of the buyer or consignee thereof and the name and address of the carrier. Duplicate bills or 

invoices, if complete in the foregoing respects, may be used in filing the record of sales and deliveries. For the 

purposes of this chapter, every manufacturer or dealer shall mark and number each gambling device so that it is 

individually identifiable. In cases of sale, delivery, or shipment of gambling devices in unassembled form, the 

manufacturer or dealer shall separately mark and number the components of each gambling device with a 

common mark and number as if it were an assembled gambling device. It shall be unlawful for any 

manufacturer or dealer to sell, deliver, or ship any gambling device which is not marked and numbered for 

identification as herein provided; and it shall be unlawful for any manufacturer or dealer to manufacture, 

recondition, repair, sell, deliver, or ship any gambling device without having registered as required by this 

section, or without filing monthly the required inventories and records of sales and deliveries."] 

Labeling And Marking Of Shipping Packages, 15 U.S.C. 1174 

All gambling devices, and all packages containing any such, when shipped or transported shall be plainly and 

clearly labeled or marked so that the name and address of the shipper and of the consignee, and the nature of the 

article or the contents of the package may be readily ascertained on an inspection of the outside of the article or 

package. 

Specific Jurisdictions Within Which Manufacturing, Reparing, Selling, Possessingm ETC, Prohibited; 

Exceptions, 15 U.S.C. 1175 

(a) General rule

It shall be unlawful to manufacture, recondition, repair, sell, transport, possess, or use any gambling device in 

the District of Columbia, in any possession of the United States, within Indian country as defined in section 

1151 of Title 18 or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States as defined in 

section 7 of Title 18, including on a vessel documented under chapter 121 of Title 46 or documented under the 

laws of a foreign country. 
(b) Exception

(1) In general -- Except as provided in paragraph (2), this section does not prohibit-- 

(A) the repair, transport, possession, or use of a gambling device on a vessel that is not within the boundaries of 

any State or possession of the United States; 

(B) the transport or possession, on a voyage, of a gambling device on a vessel that is within the boundaries of 

any State or possession of the United States, if- 

(i) use of the gambling device on a portion of that voyage is, by reason of subparagraph (A), not a violation of 

this section; and 

(ii) the gambling device remains on board that vessel while the vessel is within the boundaries of that State or 

possession; or 

(C) the repair, transport, possession, or use of a gambling device on a vessel on a voyage that begins in the State 

of Indiana and that does not leave the territorial jurisdiction of that State, including such a voyage on Lake 

Michigan. 

(2) Application to certain voyages 

(A) General rule -- Paragraph (1)(A) does not apply to the repair or use of a gambling device on a vessel that is 

on a voyage or segment of a voyage described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph if the State or possession 

of the United States in which the voyage or segment begins and ends has enacted a statute the terms of which 

prohibit that repair or use on that voyage or segment. 

(B) Voyage and segment described a voyage or segment of a voyage referred to in subparagraph (A) is a voyage 

or segment, respectively-- 

(i) that begins and ends in the same State or possession of the United States, and 

(ii) during which the vessel does not make an intervening stop within the boundaries of another State or 

possession of the United States or a foreign country. 

(C) Exclusion of certain voyages and segments Except for a voyage or segment of a voyage that occurs within 

the boundaries of the State of Hawaii, a voyage or segment of a voyage is not described in subparagraph (B) if 

such voyage or segment includes or consists of a segment-- 

(i) that begins and ends in the same State; 

(ii) that is part of a voyage to another State or to a foreign country; and 

(iii) in which the vessel reaches the other State or foreign country within 3 days after leaving the State in which 

such segment begins. 

(c) Exception

(1) With respect to a vessel operating in Alaska, this section does not prohibit, nor may the State of Alaska 

make it a violation of law for there to occur, the repair, transport, possession, or use of any gambling device on 

board a vessel which provides sleeping accommodations for all of its passengers and that is on a voyage or 

segment of a voyage described in paragraph (2), except that such State may, within its boundaries-- 

(A) prohibit the use of a gambling device on a vessel while it is docked or anchored or while it is operating 

within 3 nautical miles of a port at which it is scheduled to call; and 

(B) require the gambling devices to remain on board the vessel. 

(2) A voyage referred to in paragraph (1) is a voyage that-- 

(A) includes a stop in Canada or in a State other than the State of Alaska; 

(B) includes stops in at least 2 different ports situated in the State of Alaska; and 

(C) is of at least 60 hours duration. 

[ 1996 Amendments. Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub.L. 104-324, S 1106(b), added subpar. (C). Subsec. (b)(2)(C).

Pub.L. 104-324, S 1106(a), added subpar. (C). A substantially identical subpar. (C) was added by Pub.L. 104-

264, Title XII, S 1222, Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3286. Subsec. (c). Pub.L. 104-324, S 1106(c), added subsec. (c). 

1992 Amendments. Subsec. (a). Pub.L. 102-251, S 202(b)(1), (2), designated existing provision as subsec. (a), 

inserted heading,and inserted before period at and ", including on a vessel documented under chapter 121 of 

Title 46 or documented under the laws of a foreign country". Subsec. (b). Pub.L. 102-251, S 202(b)(3), added 

subsec. (b). Applicability of Pub.L. 104-264 Except as otherwise specifically provided, Pub.L. 104-264 and the 

amendments made by Pub.L. 104-264 applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 1996, and not to 
be construed as affecting funds made available for a fiscal year ending before Oct. 1, 1996, see section 3 of 

Pub.L. 104-264, set out as a note under section 106 of Title 49, Transportation. 

Penalties, 15 U.S.C. 1176 

Whoever violates any of the provisions of sections 1172, 1173, 1174, or 1175 of this title shall be fined not 

more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. 

Confiscation Of Gambling Devices And Means Of Transportation; Laws Governing, 15 U.S.C. 1177 

Any gambling device transported, delivered, shipped, manufactured, reconditioned, repaired, sold, disposed of, 

received, possessed, or used in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be seized and forfeited to the 

United States. All provisions of law relating to the seizure, summary and judicial forfeiture, and condemnation 

of vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and baggage for violation of the customs laws; the disposition of such 

vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and baggage or the proceeds from the sale thereof; the remission or mitigation 

of such forfeitures; and the compromise of claims and the award of compensation to informers in respect of 

such forfeitures shall apply to seizures and forfeitures incurred, or alleged to have been incurred, under the 

provisions of this chapter, insofar as applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions hereof: Provided, That 

such duties as are imposed upon the collector of customs or any other person with respect to the seizure and 

forfeiture of vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and baggage under the customs laws shall be performed with 

respect to seizures and forfeitures of gambling devices under this chapter by such officers, agents, or other 

persons as may be authorized or designated for that purpose by the Attorney General. 

Nonapplicability Of Chapter To Certain Machines And Devices, 15 U.S.C. 1178 

None of the provisions of this chapter shall be construed to apply-- 

(1) to any machine or mechanical device designed and manufactured primarily for use at a racetrack in 

connection with parimutuel betting, 

(2) to any machine or mechanical device, such as a coin-operated bowling alley, shuffleboard, marble machine 

(a so-called pinball machine), or mechanical gun, which is not designed and manufactured primarily for use in 

connection with gambling, and (A) which when operated does not deliver, as a result of the application of an 

element of chance, any money or property, or (B) by the operation of which a person may not become entitled 

to receive, as the result of the application of an element of chance, any money or property, or 

(3) to any so-called claw, crane, or digger machine and similar devices which are not operated by coin, are 

actuated by a crank, and are designed and manufactured primarily for use at carnivals or county or State fairs.