LRB-2237/1
RLR:jld:rs
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
May 21, 2007 - Introduced by Senators Plale and
Olsen, cosponsored by
Representatives Zepnick, Gronemus, Musser, Vos, Gunderson, Ballweg and
Mursau. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Corrections.
SB188,1,3
1An Act to amend 945.01 (5) (am); and
to create 945.01 (1) (f) and 945.01 (5m)
2of the statutes;
relating to: eliminating the penalty for participating in an
3office sports pool.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law prohibits betting for something of value or conducting a lottery,
which is an enterprise wherein for a consideration the participants are given an
opportunity to win a prize, the award of which is determined by chance, even though
accompanied by some skill. A person may be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned
for not more than 90 days, or both fined and imprisoned for betting for something of
value or conducting a lottery. A person who is convicted of betting or lottery activities
that constitute commercial gambling may be fined not more than $10,000, sentenced
to a term of imprisonment (consisting of confinement followed by extended
supervision) that may not exceed three years and six months, or both fined and
imprisoned.
This bill provides that managing or participating in an office sports pool does
not constitute betting or conducting a lottery. Under the bill, an office sports pool is
a game in which all of the participants are employed by the same employer, the
consideration paid by each participant does not exceed $50, a prize is awarded based
on the results of a sporting event or a series of related sporting events, the prize is
all or any portion of the money provided by the participants as consideration, and the
person managing the game is a participant and does not manage the game for gain.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB188, s. 1
1Section
1. 945.01 (1) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
SB188,2,22
945.01
(1) (f) Managing or participating in an office sports pool.
SB188, s. 2
3Section
2. 945.01 (5) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB188,2,64
945.01
(5) (am) "Lottery" does not include bingo or a raffle conducted under ch.
5563, pari-mutuel wagering conducted under ch. 562
or, the state lottery or any
6multijurisdictional lottery conducted under ch. 565
, or an office sports pool.
SB188, s. 3
7Section
3. 945.01 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB188,2,98
945.01
(5m) Office sports pool. An office sports pool is a game to which all
9of the following apply:
SB188,2,1010
(a) All of the participants in the game are employed by the same employer.
SB188,2,1211
(b) For an opportunity to win a prize, a participant in the game provides
12consideration of an amount of money not exceeding $50.
SB188,2,1413
(c) The prize awarded to a winning participant is all or any portion of the money
14provided by the participants as consideration.
SB188,2,1615
(d) A prize is awarded based on the results of a sporting event or a series of
16related sporting events.
SB188,2,2017
(e) The person managing the game is a participant in the game and does not
18manage the game for gain. For purposes of this paragraph, a person does not manage
19a game for gain if he or she is awarded a prize as a result of being a participant in
20the game.
