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§ 12-102. Betting, wagering, gambling, and related activities

West's Annotated Code of MarylandCriminal LawEffective: October 1, 2019

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Criminal Law (Refs & Annos)
Title 12. Gaming--Statewide Provisions (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 1. General Provisions
Effective: October 1, 2019
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 12-102
Formerly cited as MD CODE Art. 27, § 240
§ 12-102. Betting, wagering, gambling, and related activities
Currentness
Prohibited
(a) A person may not:
(1) make or sell a book or pool on the result of a race, contest, or contingency;
(2) establish, keep, rent, use, or occupy, or knowingly allow to be established, kept, rented, used, or occupied, all or a part of a building, vessel, or place, on land or water, within the State, for the purpose of:
(i) betting, wagering, or gambling; or
(ii) making, selling, or buying books or pools on the result of a race, contest, or contingency; or
(3) receive, become the depository of, record, register, or forward, or propose, agree, or pretend to forward, money or any other thing or consideration of value, to be bet, wagered, or gambled on the result of a race, contest, or contingency.
Penalty
(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both.
Baltimore City
(c)(1) The provisions of this subsection apply only in Baltimore City.
(2) A person who violates this section may be charged by a citation.
(3) A citation for a violation of this section may be issued to a person by a police officer authorized to make arrests in Baltimore City if there is probable cause to believe that the person is committing or has committed a violation of this section.
(4) A citation issued under this subsection shall contain:
(i) the name and address of the person charged;
(ii) the statute allegedly violated;
(iii) the location, date, and time that the violation occurred;
(iv) the fine or term of imprisonment that may be imposed;
(v) a notice stating that prepayment of a fine is not allowed;
(vi) a notice that the court shall promptly send the person charged a summons to appear for trial; and
(vii) the signature of the police officer issuing the citation.
(5)(i) The police officer who issued the citation shall forward to the appropriate court a copy of the citation.
(ii) The court shall promptly schedule the case for trial and summon the defendant to appear.
(iii) Willful failure of the defendant to respond to the summons is contempt of court.

Credits

Added by Acts 2002, c. 26, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2002. Amended by Acts 2004, c. 123, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2004; Acts 2019, c. 495, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019.
Formerly Art. 27, § 240.
MD Code, Criminal Law, § 12-102, MD CRIM LAW § 12-102
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document