I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4284
To provide for the establishment of an Amateur Sports Illegal Gambling
Task Force; to increase penalties for illegal sports gambling; and to
study illegal sports gambling behavior among minor persons.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 13, 2000
Ms. BERKLEY (for herself, Mr. GIBBONS, and Ms. DELAURO) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To provide for the establishment of an Amateur Sports Ille-
gal Gambling Task Force; to increase penalties for illegal
sports gambling; and to study illegal sports gambling
behavior among minor persons.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Illegal Sports Betting
Enforcement Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. AMATEUR SPORTS ILLEGAL GAMBLING TASK
FORCE.
(a) APPOINTMENT OF TASK FORCE.—The Attorney
General shall establish in the Department of Justice an
Amateur Sports Illegal Gambling Task Force.
(b) DUTIES.—The duties of the Amateur Sports Ille-
gal Gambling Task Force are—
(1) to enforce Federal laws that prohibit gam-
bling relating to amateur sporting events and con-
tests, and
(2) to submit annually, to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the President pro
tempore of the Senate, a report describing with re-
spect to violations of such laws, prosecutions com-
menced, and convictions obtained during the period
for which such report is submitted.
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and $5,000,000 for each
of the fiscal years 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.
SEC. 3. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL SPORTS GAM-
BLING.
(a) INTERSTATE TRANSMISSION OF BETS OR INFOR-
MATION ASSISTING
IN PLACING BETS
ON SPORTING
EVENTS.—Section 1084(a) of title 18, United States
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘two’’ and inserting ‘‘5’’.
(b) INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF WAGERING
PARAPHERNALIA.—Section 1953(a) of title 18, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘If the matter carried or sent in interstate or for-
eign commerce was intended by the defendant to be used
to assist in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting
event or contest, the maximum term of imprisonment for
the offense shall be 10 years.’’.
(c) ILLEGAL GAMBLING BUSINESS.—Section 1955(a)
of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end the following: ‘‘If the gambling business included
the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or
contest, the maximum term of imprisonment for the of-
fense shall be 10 years.’’.
(d) INTERSTATE TRAVEL TO PROMOTE AND CON-
DUCT AN ILLEGAL GAMBLING BUSINESS.—Section 1952
of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘(d) If the offense violated paragraph (1) or (3) of
subsection (a) and the illegal activity included the placing
of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, the
maximum term of imprisonment for the offense shall be
10 years.’’.
(e) SPORTS BRIBERY.—Section 224(a) of title 18,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following: ‘‘If the purpose of the bribery is to affect the
outcome of a bet or wager placed on any sporting event
or contest, the maximum term of imprisonment for the
offense shall be 10 years.’’.
SEC. 4. STUDY ON ILLEGAL SPORTS GAMBLING BEHAVIOR
AMONG MINOR PERSONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National In-
stitute of Justice shall conduct a study to determine the
extent to which minor persons participate in illegal sports
gambling activities.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National
Institute of Justice shall submit to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the President pro tempore
of the Senate, a report—
(1) describing the extent to which minor per-
sons participate in illegal sports gambling activities,
and
(2) making recommendations on actions that
should be taken to curtail participation by minor
persons in sports gambling activities.
SEC. 5. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress as follows:
(1) Illegal sports gambling poses a significant
threat to youth on college campuses and in society
in general.
(2) State and local governments, the National
Collegiate Athletic Association, and other youth,
school, and collegiate organizations should provide
educational and prevention programs to help youth
recognize the dangers of illegal sports gambling and
the serious consequences it can have.
(3) Such programs should include public service
announcements, especially during tournament and
bowl game coverage.
(4) The National Collegiate Athletic Association
and other amateur sports governing bodies should
adopt mandatory codes of conduct regarding the
avoidance and prevention of illegal sports gambling
among our youth.
(5) The National Collegiate Athletic Association
should enlist universities in the United States to de-
velop scientific research on youth sports gambling,
and related matters.
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