An Act to provide means for the Federal Government to combat interstate crime and to assist the States in the enforcement of their criminal laws by prohibiting the interstate transportation of wagering paraphernalia.
PL 87-218 (S.1657), enacted 09/13/1961

492 
PUBLIC LAW 87-217-SEPT. 13, 1961 
[75 S TAT. 
September 13, 1961 
[S. 513] 
Acadia. 
Coastwise 
lieges. 
73 Stat. 597 
priv-
Public Law 87-217 
AN ACT 
To authorize and direct the Secretary of the Treasury to cause the vessel Acadia, 
owned by Robert J. Davis of Port Clyde, Maine, to be documented as a vessel 
of the United States with coastwise privileges. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of Aineriea in Congress assembled^ That, notwithstand-
ing the provisions of section 4132 of the Revised Statutes of the United 
States, as amended (46 U.S.C. 11), the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
cause the vessel Acadia, owned by Robert J. Davis of Port Clyde, 
Maine, to be documented as a vessel of the United States, upon 
compliance with the usual requirements, with the privilege of engaging 
in the coastwise trade so long as such vessel is owned by a citizen of 
the United States. 
Approved September 13, 1961. 
Public Law 87-218 
September 13,1961 
[S. 1657] 
Wagering p a r a-
phemalia. 
Interstate trans-
portation. 
62 Stat. 793. 
18 u s e 1951. 
AN ACT 
62 Stat. 762. 
To provide means for the Federal Government to combat interstate crime and 
to assist the States in the enforcement of their criminal laws by prohibiting 
the interstate transportation of wagering paraphernalia. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That chapter 95 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding the following new 
section at the end thereof: 
'*§ 1953. Interstate transportation of wagering paraphernalia 
"(a) Whoever, except a common carrier in the usual course of its 
business, knowingly carries or sends in interstate or foreign commerce 
any record, paraphernalia, ticket, certificate, bills, slip, token, paper, 
writing, or other device used, or to be used, or adapted, devised, or 
designed for use in (a) bookmakin^; or (b) wagering pools with 
respect to a sporting event; or (c) in a numbers, policy, bolita, or 
similar game shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not 
more than five years or both. 
"(b) This section shall not apply to (1) parimutuel betting equip-
ment, parimutuel tickets where legally acquired, or parimutuel 
materials used or designed for use at racetracks or other sporting 
events in connection with which betting is legal under applicable State 
law, or (2) the transportation of betting materials to be used in the 
placing of bets or wagers on a sporting event into a State in which 
such betting is legal under the statutes ofthat State, or (3) the carriage 
or transportation in interstate or foreign commerce of any newspaper 
or similar publication. 
"(c) Nothing contained in this section shall create immunity from 
criminal prosecution under anjr laws of any State, Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, territory, possession, or the District of Columbia." 
and by adding the following item to the analysis of the chapter: 
"Sec. 1953. Interstate transportation of wagering paraphernalia." 
SEC. 2. Section 1302 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
deleting the dash at the end of the fifth paragraph and inserting in 
lieu thereof a semicolon and adding a new sixth paragraph as follows: 
"Any article described in section 1963 of this title—". 
Approved September 13, 1961.