reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-18 - Fraud and False Dealing › Section 11-18-23. - Defacement or alteration of manufacturer’s serial number.

§ 11-18-23. Defacement or alteration of manufacturer’s serial number.
Any person who: (1) willfully removes, defaces, covers, alters, or destroys the manufacturer’s serial number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark on any machine or any electrical or mechanical device for the purpose of preventing the detection of a crime or defrauding the manufacturer or any seller or any purchaser of the machine or the electrical or mechanical device; or (2) being a dealer in merchandise or the agent, employee, or representative of a dealer, knowingly buys, sells, receives, disposes of, conceals, or knowingly has in his or her possession any machine or any electrical or mechanical device from which the manufacturer’s serial number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed, defaced, covered, altered, or destroyed for a purpose specified in subdivision (1) of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
History of Section.
P.L. 1951, ch. 2704, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 11-18-23.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-18 - Fraud and False Dealing › Section 11-18-24. - Penalty for serial number violations.

§ 11-18-24. Penalty for serial number violations.
Every person convicted of a misdemeanor for the violation of any provision of § 11-18-23 shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both fine and imprisonment.
History of Section.
P.L. 1951, ch. 2704, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 11-18-24.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-18 - Fraud and False Dealing › Section 11-18-25. - Concealment or transfer of property with intent to defraud creditors.

§ 11-18-25. Concealment or transfer of property with intent to defraud creditors.
Every person who, while insolvent, shall, with intent to defraud his or her creditors, remove from out of the state, secrete, or unlawfully transfer or otherwise dispose of any property belonging to his or her estate, which is not exempt from attachment by law, or who, having made an assignment for the benefit of creditors, shall secrete, destroy, or withhold from his or her assignee any books, deeds, documents, or writings relating to the property, shall, upon conviction of the offense, be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 67; P.L. 1902, ch. 1000, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 70; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 70; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 77; G.L. 1956, § 11-18-25.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-18 - Fraud and False Dealing › Section 11-18-26. - Obtaining food or accommodations with intent to defraud.

§ 11-18-26. Obtaining food or accommodations with intent to defraud.
(a)
Every person who shall obtain credit or accommodation at any hotel, inn, restaurant, boarding house, or lodging house by means of any false pretense, or who, with intent to defraud the proprietor, or the proprietor’s agent or servant, obtains any credit or accommodation at a hotel, inn, restaurant, boarding house or lodging house, without paying, shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) or be imprisoned not exceeding thirty (30) days.
(b)
Proof that lodging, food or other accommodation was obtained by false or fictitious showing or pretense of baggage, or that the person refused or neglected to pay for the food, lodging, or other accommodation, or removed or caused to be removed his or her baggage from the premises, without paying for the food, lodging, or other accommodation, shall be presumptive evidence of the fraudulent intent referred to in subsection (a) of this section; but this provision shall not apply where there has been a special agreement for delay in payment.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 51; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 54; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 54; P.L. 1927, ch. 1047, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 62; G.L. 1956, § 11-18-26.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-18 - Fraud and False Dealing › Section 11-18-27. - Sale of false diplomas or certificates.

§ 11-18-27. Sale of false diplomas or certificates.
Any person who unlawfully sells, buys, creates, duplicates, alters, gives, or obtains or attempts to buy, sell, create, duplicate, alter, give, or obtain a diploma or certificate of enrollment, conferred by an accredited institution of education in any country, with the intent to use fraudulently the document or to allow the fraudulent use of the document, shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be sentenced for not more than two (2) years in jail or fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
History of Section.
G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 62; P.L. 1952, ch. 2895, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 11-18-27; P.L. 1990, ch. 104, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-18 - Fraud and False Dealing › Section 11-18-28. - False animal registrations and pedigrees.

§ 11-18-28. False animal registrations and pedigrees.
Every person who by any false pretense shall obtain from any club, association, society, or company for improving the breed of cattle, horses, sheep, swine, or other domestic animals, the registration of any animal in the herd register or other register of the club, association, society or company, or who knowingly shall obtain a transfer of that registration, and every person who shall knowingly give a false pedigree of any animal, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), or both.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 19; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 19; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 19; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 19; G.L. 1956, § 11-18-28.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-18 - Fraud and False Dealing › Section 11-18-29. - Fraudulent stock certificates.

§ 11-18-29. Fraudulent stock certificates.
Every president, secretary, cashier, treasurer, or other officer or agent of any incorporated company or institution, who shall fraudulently issue any stock or certificate of stock of the company or institution, shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and shall be imprisoned not exceeding ten (10) years, nor less than one year.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 279, § 20; G.L. 1909, ch. 345, § 20; G.L. 1923, ch. 397, § 20; G.L. 1938, ch. 608, § 20; G.L. 1956, § 11-18-29.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-18 - Fraud and False Dealing › Section 11-18-30. - Prearranged funerals — Receipt of money with intent to defraud.

§ 11-18-30. Prearranged funerals — Receipt of money with intent to defraud.
No person may arrange, promote, enter into, or sell any funeral service contract on behalf of a funeral service establishment unless the person is an embalmer or funeral director licensed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 33.2 of title 5. All monies received under these contracts shall be placed into segregated escrow accounts and marked accordingly. Any funeral director or licensed employee who receives monies under the contracts with intent to defraud the purchaser shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned for not more than one year or fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). Failure to hold such monies under the contract in segregated escrow accounts shall be prima facie evidence of the intent to defraud.
History of Section.
P.L. 1982, ch. 382, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 103, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-18 - Fraud and False Dealing › Section 11-18-31. - Solicitation in name of law enforcement agency.

§ 11-18-31. Solicitation in name of law enforcement agency.
(a)
No professional solicitor shall solicit money from any individual or business in the name of any law enforcement agency or any organization which would reasonably appear to be affiliated in any way with any law enforcement agency or personnel. For the purposes of this section, “professional solicitor” means any firm or corporation or any person other than a sworn police officer or retired police officer in the agency or organization for which the solicitation is being made, who, for compensation or other consideration, solicits contributions for or on behalf of another.
(b)
No person shall solicit money in the name of any law enforcement agency or any organization which would reasonably appear to be affiliated in any way with any law enforcement agency or personnel, unless notification is given to the superintendent of the state police and the police chief of the municipality in which solicitations shall be conducted.
(c)
Only sworn police officers and retired police officers shall solicit money in the name of any law enforcement agency or any organization which would reasonably appear to be affiliated in any way with any law enforcement agency or personnel. Every sworn police officer and retired police officer so soliciting shall identify himself or herself by name, rank, department and status as an active or retired police officer to each person solicited. If the solicitation is done by telephone, the same officer or retired officer who makes the telephone solicitation shall personally appear before the donor to accept the donation.
(d)
Any person, firm, or corporation violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by imprisonment not exceeding two (2) years and/or fined in an amount not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000).
History of Section.
P.L. 1983, ch. 208, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-18 - Fraud and False Dealing › Section 11-18-32. - Video, audio and publication rentals.

§ 11-18-32. Video, audio and publication rentals.
(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person to reveal, transmit, publish, or disseminate in any manner, any records which would identify the names and addresses of individuals, with the titles or nature of video films, records, cassettes, or the like, which they purchased, leased, rented, or borrowed, from libraries, book stores, video stores, or record and cassette shops or any retailer or distributor of those products, whether or not the identities and listings are kept in a remote computing service or electronic storage or the disclosure is made through or by a remote computing service. It shall not be unlawful to make disclosures to other employees of the library or business incident to the normal course of their work or pursuant to lawful compulsion.
(b)
All records of such transactions shall be maintained as confidential and may only be released by written waiver.
(c)
Any person, firm, or corporation violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine in an amount not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation, or by imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months, or both.
(d)
Any person injured as a result of a violation of this section may bring a civil action against the violator for actual damages or two hundred fifty dollars ($250), whichever is greater, for each violation, plus reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 94, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-18 - Fraud and False Dealing › Section 11-18-33. - Defrauding the administration of a drug or alcohol test.

§ 11-18-33. Defrauding the administration of a drug or alcohol test.
(a)
As used in this section, “defraud the administration of a drug or alcohol test” means to submit a substance that purports to be from a person other than its actual source, or purports to have been excreted or collected at a time other than when it was actually excreted or collected, or to otherwise engage in conduct intended to produce a false or misleading outcome of a test for the presence of alcohol or a chemical, drug or controlled dangerous substance, or metabolite of a drug or controlled dangerous substance, in the human body. It shall specifically include, but not be limited to, the furnishing of urine with the purpose that the urine be submitted for urinalysis as a true specimen of a person.
(b)
Any person who offers for sale or rental, or who manufactures, markets, sells, transfers or gives to any person, any instrument or tool, devise or substance adapted, designed or commonly used to defraud the administration of a drug or alcohol test with the intent to defraud the administration, is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
(c)
Any person who knowingly defrauds the administration of a drug or alcohol test that is administered as a condition of monitoring a person on bail, in custody or on parole, probation or pretrial intervention, or any other form of supervision administered in connection with a criminal offense or juvenile delinquency matter, is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
History of Section.
P.L. 2009, ch. 120, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 141, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-1. - Forms of gambling prohibited.

§ 11-19-1. Forms of gambling prohibited.
Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, set up, put forth, carry on, promote, or draw, publicly or privately, any lottery, chance, game, or device of any nature or kind whatsoever, or by whatsoever name it may be called, for the purpose of exposing, setting for sale or disposing of any money, houses, lands, merchandise, or articles of value, or shall sell or expose to sale lottery policies, purporting to be governed by the drawing of any public or private lottery, or shall sign or endorse any book, document, or paper whatsoever, for the purpose of enabling others to sell, or expose to sale, lottery policies, except as authorized in this chapter and in title 41 and chapters 61 and 61.2 of title 42, shall be deemed guilty of a felony and shall be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years or be fined not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000).
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-1; P.L. 1975, ch. 41, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 309, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 389, § 1; P.L. 1980, ch. 406, § 4; P.L. 1982, ch. 72, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 279, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 84, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-1.1. - Lotteries permitted.

§ 11-19-1.1. Lotteries permitted.
(a)
Any state, city, town, ward, or district committee elected pursuant to the provisions of title 17 or certified candidates, but not both, as defined in title 17, shall be allowed to conduct that lottery commonly known as a “twenty (20) week club” or conduct a raffle once within a twelve (12) month period subsequent to notification to the Rhode Island lottery commission. For the purposes of this section a “certified candidate” does not include any state, city, town, ward, or district committee person.
(b)
Credit unions may conduct “savings promotion raffles” as authorized by § 19-5-29.
History of Section.
P.L. 1993, ch. 84, § 2; P.L. 2010, ch. 222, § 3.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-2. - Unauthorized sale of lottery tickets.

§ 11-19-2. Unauthorized sale of lottery tickets.
Every person not authorized by the Rhode Island state police who shall sell or expose to sale any ticket, or certificate in the nature of a ticket, or share in any ticket or certificate in the nature of a ticket, in any lottery set up within or without this state, shall be fined for every such ticket, certificate or share of the ticket or certificate by that person sold or exposed to sale not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00).
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 2; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-2; P.L. 1975, ch. 41, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 309, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-3. - Instruments given for lottery tickets void.

§ 11-19-3. Instruments given for lottery tickets void.
All notes, obligations, securities, or promises whatsoever, given for the purchase of any lottery ticket or certificate, lottery policy, or of any document or paper taken or received for the purpose of enabling others to sell or dispose of lottery tickets or lottery policies, shall be null and void.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 3; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 3; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 3; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-3.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-4. - Recovery of lottery ticket value by holder.

§ 11-19-4. Recovery of lottery ticket value by holder.
The purchaser or receiver of any lottery ticket or certificate in the nature of a lottery ticket, or share in either, not authorized by the Rhode Island state police whether it shall have been paid for in money, or however received, even though by way of gift, for the purpose of enabling the seller or giver to dispose of any article or piece of property, real, personal, or mixed, shall recover back the amount paid by him or her, or the value at which, according to the proof, the ticket or certificate may be reckoned in the transaction, as the case may be, from the person from whom the ticket or policy was purchased or received, in an action of the case for money had and received.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 4; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 4; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 4; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-4; P.L. 1975, ch. 41, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 309, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-6. - Possession of policy devices as evidence of knowledge.

§ 11-19-6. Possession of policy devices as evidence of knowledge.
The possession, by any person not authorized by the Rhode Island state police other than a public official in the course of his or her duty, of any bill, slip, certificate, token, or other device, or article of any kind such as is used in carrying on, promoting, or playing the game commonly known as lottery-policy or policy, shall be presumptive evidence of possession of that item knowingly and in violation of § 11-19-5.
History of Section.
P.L. 1909, ch. 376, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 37; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 36; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-6; P.L. 1975, ch. 41, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 309, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-7. - Judicial notice of policy methods.

§ 11-19-7. Judicial notice of policy methods.
Any court or magistrate having criminal jurisdiction may take judicial notice of the general methods and character of lotteries, policy-lotteries, of the game called policy, pools, or combination bets, and the buying and selling of pools and registering of bets, not authorized by the Rhode Island state police.
History of Section.
P.L. 1909, ch. 376, § 3; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 37; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 36; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-7; P.L. 1975, ch. 41, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 309, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-8. - Policy devices as evidence of existence of game.

§ 11-19-8. Policy devices as evidence of existence of game.
In the trial of a complaint or indictment to which it may be relevant any lottery, policy, or pool ticket, certificate, slip, or check, manifold, or other policy or pool book or sheet, or memorandum of any pool or sale of pools, or of a bet or odds, or combination bet, or any other implement, apparatus, materials, or articles of a character commonly employed in or in connection with lotteries, policy-lotteries, or policy, the buying or selling of pools, or registering of bets, or other form of gaming not authorized by the Rhode Island state police shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and unlawful character of a lottery, policy-lottery, or game, pool or pools, bet, game, or hazard, or other form of gaming in which like articles are commonly used, and that the article has relation to it.
History of Section.
P.L. 1909, ch. 376, § 3; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 37; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 36; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-8; P.L. 1975, ch. 41, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 309, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-9. - Illegal trading stamps and coupons.

§ 11-19-9. Illegal trading stamps and coupons.
All schemes and devices by which any person or corporation shall sell, give, or distribute any stamp, trading-stamp, cash discount stamp, amusement stamp, check, coupon, or other similar device to any purchaser of goods, wares, or merchandise, which will entitle the holder of the stamp, trading-stamp, cash discount stamp, amusement stamp, check, coupon, or other similar device, on presentation of it, either singly or in definite numbers, to receive either directly from the vendor or indirectly through any other person or corporation, some indefinite and undescribed article, the nature and value of which are unknown to the purchaser of the goods, wares, and merchandise at the time of the purchase of the merchandise, are declared to partake so much of the nature of a lottery as to be detrimental to the public morals, and are declared to be illegal.
History of Section.
P.L. 1901, ch. 842, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 5; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 5; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-9.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-10. - Distribution of illegal stamps or coupons.

§ 11-19-10. Distribution of illegal stamps or coupons.
No person or corporation shall sell, give, or distribute any stamp, trading-stamp, cash discount stamp, amusement stamp, check, coupon or other similar device, to any purchaser of goods, wares, or merchandise, which will entitle the holder of the stamp, trading-stamp, cash discount stamp, amusement stamp, check, coupon, or other similar device, on presentation of it, either singly or in definite numbers, to receive either directly from the vendor or indirectly through any other person or corporation, some indefinite and undescribed article, the nature and value of which are unknown to the purchaser of the goods, wares, and merchandise at the time of their purchase.
History of Section.
P.L. 1901, ch. 842, § 2; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 6; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 6; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 6; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-10.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-11. - Stamps and coupons as inducement to purchase goods.

§ 11-19-11. Stamps and coupons as inducement to purchase goods.
No person or corporation shall, either directly or indirectly, give, sell, or distribute any stamp, trading-stamp, cash discount stamp, amusement stamp, check, coupon, or other similar device with the promise, expressed or implied, as an inducement to the purchase of some article of goods, wares, or merchandise, that the holder of the stamp, trading-stamp, cash discount stamp, amusement stamp, check, coupon, or other similar device is to receive in return, on presentation, some gift, prize, or gratuity, the nature and value of which are unknown to the purchase of the goods, wares, or merchandise at the time of their purchase, the promise to be fulfilled only upon the presentation of the stamp, trading-stamp, cash discount stamp, amusement stamp, check, coupon, or other similar device, together with the number of like stamps, trading-stamps, cash discount stamps, amusement stamps, checks, coupons, or other similar devices, as the issuer or redeemer may elect shall be redeemed at any one time.
History of Section.
P.L. 1901, ch. 842, § 3; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 7; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 7; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 7; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-11.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-12. - Penalty for stamp and coupon violations.

§ 11-19-12. Penalty for stamp and coupon violations.
Whoever shall violate any provision of §§ 11-19-9 — 11-19-11 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and for each offense shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding three (3) months.
History of Section.
P.L. 1901, ch. 842, § 4; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 8; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 8; P.L. 1931, ch. 1691, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-12.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-13. - Door prizes exempt.

§ 11-19-13. Door prizes exempt.
Nothing in §§ 11-19-1 — 11-19-4 or in §§ 11-19-9 — 11-19-11 shall be deemed to prohibit or make illegal the annual or semiannual distribution by chance, of prizes, souvenirs, or favors by any club, society, lodge, or association at its dance, dinner, entertainment, or outing where the distribution is purely incidental to the dance, dinner, entertainment or outing or when the entire net proceeds of the dance, dinner, entertainment or outing is devoted to charity, if the club, society, lodge or association has first obtained the written permission for the distribution, in towns, from the town sergeant, in cities, from the police commission or police commissioner, if there is such an official, otherwise from the chief of police of the town or city where the dance, dinner, entertainment or outing is held, and that permitting authority is authorized to grant the permit when he or she is satisfied that the distribution comes within this section.
History of Section.
G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 8; P.L. 1931, ch. 1691, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-13.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-14. - Bookmaking.

§ 11-19-14. Bookmaking.
Except as provided in chapter 4 of title 41 and excluding activities authorized by the division of lottery under chapters 61 and 61.2 of title 42, any person who shall engage in pool selling or bookmaking, or shall occupy or keep any room, shed, tenement, tent, or building, or any part of them, or shall occupy any place upon any public or private grounds within this state, with books, apparatus, or paraphernalia for the purpose of recording or registering bets or wagers or of buying or selling pools, or who shall record or register bets or wagers or sell pools upon the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed, or power of endurance of man or beast, or upon the result of any political nomination, appointment, or election, or, being the owner or lessee or occupant of any room, tent, tenement, shed, booth, or building, or part of them, knowingly shall permit it to be used or occupied for any of these purposes, or shall keep, exhibit, or employ any device or apparatus for the purpose of recording or registering bets or wagers, or the selling of pools, or shall become the custodian or depositary for gain, hire, or reward of any money, property, or thing of value staked, wagered, or pledged or to be wagered or pledged upon the result, or who shall receive, register, record, forward, or purport or pretend to forward to or for any race course, or person, within or outside this state, any money, thing, or consideration of value bet or wagered, or money, thing, or consideration of value offered for the purpose of being bet or wagered upon the speed or endurance of any man or beast; or who shall occupy any place or building or part of it with books, papers, apparatus, or paraphernalia for the purpose of receiving or pretending to receive, or for recording or registering, or for forwarding or pretending or attempting to forward in any manner whatsoever, any money, thing, or consideration of value bet or wagered or to be bet or wagered for any other person, or who shall receive or offer to receive any money, thing, or consideration of value bet or to be bet at any race track within or without this state, or who shall aid, assist, or abet in any manner in any of the acts forbidden by this section, shall upon conviction be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment not exceeding one year, and upon a second conviction of a violation of this section shall be imprisoned for a period not less than one nor more than five (5) years.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 27; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 36; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 36; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 35; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-14; P.L. 2018, ch. 47, art. 4, § 7.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-14.1. - Bookmaking at racetrack or fronton — Entry by convicted bookmakers prohibited.

§ 11-19-14.1. Bookmaking at racetrack or fronton — Entry by convicted bookmakers prohibited.
(a)
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 11-19-14, any person who shall engage in bookmaking activities while on the premises of a racetrack or fronton facility shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) and/or imprisonment not exceeding five (5) years.
(b)
It shall be unlawful for any person who has been convicted of the crime of bookmaking in the state of Rhode Island or other state to enter or visit any racetrack or fronton facility and, upon conviction, that person shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) and/or imprisonment not exceeding one year.
History of Section.
P.L. 1980, ch. 236, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-15. - Betting on horses.

§ 11-19-15. Betting on horses.
Except as provided in chapter 4 of title 41, every person who shall make any bet or lay any wager of any kind upon any horse, to start, run, or trot, shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100).
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 13; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 17; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 17; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 17; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-15.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-16. - Forfeiture of horses used in unlawful race.

§ 11-19-16. Forfeiture of horses used in unlawful race.
Except as provided in title 41, every person who shall knowingly suffer or permit any horse belonging to him or her or of which he or she has the care and charge to start, run, or trot for any bet or wager shall forfeit the horse starting, running, or trotting to the use of the state.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 14; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 18; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 18; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 18; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-16.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-17. - Invalidity of instruments won in bets on races or fights.

§ 11-19-17. Invalidity of instruments won in bets on races or fights.
All bonds, notes, judgments, mortgages, deeds or other securities, as well as promises, given or made for money, lands, houses, or other property, or article or piece of property, real, personal, or mixed, won at any game, or by betting at any race or fight, or for the repayment of money knowingly lent for such gaming or betting, shall be utterly void.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 16; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 20; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 20; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 20; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-17.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-18. - Keeping of gambling places or devices — Acting as dealer, banker, or lookout.

§ 11-19-18. Keeping of gambling places or devices — Acting as dealer, banker, or lookout.
Every person who shall keep or suffer to be kept any building, room, booth, shed, tent, arbor, or any other place, or any automobile, bus, coach, van, truck, trainer, railway or railroad car, or any other vehicle in any city or town of this state, or in any vessel, boat, or raft upon any of the waters of Narragansett Bay, to be used or occupied for the purpose of gambling, or playing at any game or games of chance of any kind whatsoever, for money or other valuable consideration, or shall keep, exhibit, or suffer to be kept or exhibited upon premises or in a vehicle belonging to that person under his or her control, any cards, dice, table, bowls, wheel of fortune, shuffleboard, or billiard table, or any device, implement, or apparatus whatsoever to be used in gambling or playing at any game or games of chance for money or other valuable consideration, or who shall be guilty of dealing Faro, or banking for others to deal Faro, or acting as lookout, gamekeeper, or assistant for the game of Faro or any other banking game where money or property is dependent on the result, shall be taken and held to be a common gambler and shall be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years or be fined not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) nor less than five hundred dollars ($500).
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 5; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 9; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 9; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 9; P.L. 1956, ch. 3759, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-18.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-19. - Revocation of license of gambling place.

§ 11-19-19. Revocation of license of gambling place.
If a person in violation of § 11-19-18 is a tavernkeeper, innholder, retailer, or keeper of any other house or place of public resort which is licensed, that license shall in addition be declared null and void by the court in which he or she shall be convicted.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 6; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 10; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 10; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 10; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-19; P.L. 1994, ch. 134, § 4.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-20. - Inducing others to visit gambling place.

§ 11-19-20. Inducing others to visit gambling place.
Every person who shall, on any pretext whatsoever, invite, entice, persuade, or induce any other person to visit any house, room, or other place kept for the purpose of gambling, with the intent that that other person shall at that place engage in gambling or playing at any game of chance, for money or other valuable consideration, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and be imprisoned one year.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 7; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 11; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 11; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 11; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-20.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-21. - Frequenting gambling place.

§ 11-19-21. Frequenting gambling place.
Every person who shall frequent any gambling house or place where gaming is practiced or carried on, not in the performance of official duty and not being the landlord of that place entering to view the premises, shall be imprisoned not exceeding thirty (30) days.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 19; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 28; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 28; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 27; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-21.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-22. - Renting for gambling purposes.

§ 11-19-22. Renting for gambling purposes.
Every person who shall let or knowingly permit to be occupied any house, shop, or place belonging to or under the control of that person, to be used as a gambling house or place where gambling is carried on, or as a place where pools are sold, shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 20; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 29; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 29; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 28; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-22.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-23. - Lease voided by gambling.

§ 11-19-23. Lease voided by gambling.
Every lease of any house, shop, or place used as a gambling house or place where gaming is practiced or carried on, or where pools are bought or sold, shall be void, and no notice to the occupant other than a demand for the possession of the premises, shall be necessary to eject the occupant.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 21; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 30; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 30; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 29; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-23.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-26. - Destruction of apparatus seized.

§ 11-19-26. Destruction of apparatus seized.
Upon final judgment of forfeiture of implements or apparatus pursuant to § 11-19-24, either in the original or appellate court, or upon forfeiture of the recognizance given by the claimant to prosecute his or her appeal according to law, the court shall order in writing those implements and apparatus to be destroyed by any officer authorized to serve the criminal process of the court, which officer shall make return of his or her doings upon the order to the court as in other cases.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 9; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 13; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 13; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 13; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-26; P.L. 1994, ch. 134, § 4.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-28. - Fees for seizure and removal of gambling apparatus.

§ 11-19-28. Fees for seizure and removal of gambling apparatus.
In addition to the fees allowed by law, the officer who shall serve any warrant for the seizure of any gambling implements or apparatus under the provisions of this chapter shall be allowed the sum of one dollar ($1.00), and for the removing of any gambling implements or apparatus so seized to a place of safety, one dollar ($1.00) and all necessary expenses incurred in removal. These fees shall be included in the bill of costs and taxed by the court.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 283, § 11; G.L. 1909, ch. 349, § 15; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 15; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 15; G.L. 1956, § 11-19-28.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-30. - Definitions.

§ 11-19-30. Definitions.
The following definitions apply within this chapter:
(a)
“Charitable organization” means any benevolent, educational, philanthropic, humane, patriotic, social service, civic, fraternal, police, labor, religious, eleemosynary person, and/or persons holding themselves out to be a charitable organization.
(b)
“Charitable purpose” means any benevolent, educational, humane, patriotic, social service, civic, fraternal, police, labor, religious, or eleemosynary purpose, provided that no part of the net earnings inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
(c)
“Department” means the division of state police unless otherwise described.
(d)
“Director” means the superintendent of state police or the director’s designee.
(e)
“Permitted game of chance” means the game commonly known as “Bingo” or “Beano” or substantially the same game under any other name, or a raffle or lottery or that lottery commonly known as a “twenty (20) week club”.
History of Section.
P.L. 1983, ch. 188, § 2; P.L. 1993, ch. 84, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-32.1. - Senior citizens housing — Bingo allowed.

§ 11-19-32.1. Senior citizens housing — Bingo allowed.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, any organization of senior citizens may promote, carry on or conduct within their own senior citizens housing project, a bingo game, with total daily prizes not to exceed four hundred dollars ($400). The game shall be for recreational purposes and shall be open only to senior citizens who are residents of the housing project where the game is held and their guests. Bingo games shall be limited to three (3) days per calendar week and shall be operated and managed solely by residents of the housing projects. Admission to a bingo game shall only be by admission ticket which may be purchased only by a resident. Each resident shall be allowed to purchase one ticket for a guest. The guest ticket must clearly indicate that the holder is a guest and must be purchased at least three (3) hours prior to the start of the bingo game.
History of Section.
P.L. 1987, ch. 273, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 341, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 453, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 531, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-32.2. - Senior citizens’ center — Bingo allowed.

§ 11-19-32.2. Senior citizens’ center — Bingo allowed.
(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, any organization which operates a public senior citizens center or senior center may obtain a permit approved by the department to conduct bingo games in said senior citizens center or senior center for up to five (5) calendar days per week, excluding Sundays.
(b)
As used herein, the terms “senior citizens center” or “senior center” means an organization whose goal is the promotion of various recreational and educational activities to senior citizens and which receives a combination of federal, state, municipal and private funds to provide such services at a community facility.
(c)
A senior citizens center or senior center may conduct bingo games if it complies with all of the following requirements:
(1)
All bingo games are conducted only on the premises of the center’s facility;
(2)
All participants are age fifty-five (55) years of age or older; provided, this shall not prohibit a person who is less than fifty-five (55) years of age from assisting a senior citizen in playing the game;
(3)
All bingo game operators are sixty (60) years of age or older and receive no compensation for serving as operators;
(4)
The total daily prizes shall not exceed four hundred dollars ($400); and
(5)
All proceeds of the game shall be limited in use to the following:
(i)
To pay winners monetary prizes;
(ii)
To defray any costs directly related to conducting the games; and/or
(iii)
To defray costs of services the center’s facility provides.
History of Section.
P.L. 2013, ch. 515, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 529, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-33. - Bingo games — Announcement of prizes.

§ 11-19-33. Bingo games — Announcement of prizes.
Prior to each drawing or contest conducted in any game of “bingo” or “beano” as provided in this chapter, the sponsor shall announce or cause to be announced openly and clearly, so as to provide the participants with a clear understanding of the amount to be paid as a prize for each individual drawing or contest in any game of “bingo” or “beano” as provided in this chapter.
History of Section.
P.L. 1983, ch. 188, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-34. - Use of name of charitable organization to conduct permitted games of chance.

§ 11-19-34. Use of name of charitable organization to conduct permitted games of chance.
A charitable organization, within the provisions of § 11-19-30 or 11-19-31, shall not allow or permit any individual, partnership, corporation, or any other entity to utilize the name of the charitable organization for the purpose of conducting or promoting bingo or other permitted games of chance.
History of Section.
P.L. 1983, ch. 188, § 2; P.L. 1993, ch. 84, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-34.1. - Senior citizens housing — Raffles allowed.

§ 11-19-34.1. Senior citizens housing — Raffles allowed.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, any organization of senior citizens may promote, carry on, or conduct within their own senior citizens housing project, a lottery, commonly known as a raffle, with total prizes not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500). Raffles shall be for recreational purposes and shall be open only to senior citizens who are residents of the housing project where the game is held. Raffles shall be limited to three (3) times per year and shall be operated and managed solely by residents of the housing projects.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 257, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-35. - Pull-tab lottery tickets.

§ 11-19-35. Pull-tab lottery tickets.
(a)
The Rhode Island lottery is empowered to sell and regulate the sale of pull-tab lottery tickets to religious, fraternal, civic, educational, veterans’, or charitable organizations. The lottery shall determine, consistent with this section, those organizations that are authorized to sell pull-tab lottery tickets. As part of such determination, the Rhode Island lottery shall require criminal background checks of the applicant and any individual the lottery deems appropriate and said individuals shall apply to the bureau of criminal investigation of the Rhode Island state police or the Rhode Island department of the attorney general for a national criminal records check with fingerprinting. The individual whose criminal records check is being conducted shall be responsible for the payment of the costs of said criminal records check. The Rhode Island state police or the Rhode Island department of attorney general, as applicable, shall send the results of such criminal check to the Rhode Island lottery. Once said results are sent to and received by the Rhode Island Lottery, the Rhode Island state police and the Rhode Island department of attorney general shall promptly destroy said fingerprint record(s). On or before February 1, 2011, the agency shall adopt rules and regulations establishing criteria to be used in determining whether based upon a criminal records check an application will be approved.
(b)
The lottery shall insure that the pull tab lottery tickets to be distributed are secured for the purposes under which they are to be sold in terms of concealing the result of the tickets until the time that they are sold to the general public. Consistent with this section, those organizations authorized to sell the tickets are authorized to retain net profits as shall have been provided for by the commission.
(c)
Notwithstanding any other section of the general laws to the contrary, pull-tab lottery tickets authorized by this section are declared to be legal.
History of Section.
P.L. 1983, ch. 188, § 2; P.L. 2010, ch. 252, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 11 - Criminal Offenses › Chapter 11-19 - Gambling and Lotteries › Section 11-19-36. - Organizations permitted to conduct other permitted games of chance.

§ 11-19-36. Organizations permitted to conduct other permitted games of chance.
Any charitable organization may promote, carry on, or conduct any permitted game of chance authorized by the division of state police in connection with which prizes or prize monies are offered or awarded, provided as follows:
(1)
The game is conducted by members of the organization.
(2)
No person in the actual or constructive management and control of the game receives any compensation for services connected to the game.
(3)
The entire net receipts of the game, including the charges for admission to and participation in the game, are applied solely to the bona fide charitable purposes of the organization.
(4)
That the organization is granted a license issued pursuant to the provisions of § 11-19-37.
(5)
That the provisions of this section shall not apply to that lottery commonly known as a “twenty-week club” or a raffle conducted by a charitable organization.
History of Section.
P.L. 1983, ch. 188, § 2; P.L. 1993, ch. 84, § 1.