ALLOW SPORTS BETTING - S.B. 422 & 423: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bills 422 and 423 (as introduced 3-10-99)
Sponsor: Senator Dave Jaye
Committee: Gaming and Casino Oversight
Date Completed: 3-23-99
CONTENT
Senate Bill 422 would amend the Michigan Penal Code to specify that the Code's prohibitions against registering bets and buying or selling pools would not apply to a "sports betting game", or to a card, list, or other item related to the conducting of a sports betting game, in which a person wagered $5 or less. Under the bill, "sports betting game" would mean a game in which the outcome depended upon the outcome of a seasonal sporting event; in which the total possible payout was $1,000 or less; and that was composed of squares of equal dimensions in which the spaces next to the left column of squares and the top row of squares were at random assigned the digits 0 to 9. Currently, under the Code, it is a misdemeanor for a person to keep or operate any place with apparatus, books, or devices for registering bets or buying or selling pools upon the result of a trial or contest; or for a person to possess policy or pool tickets, slips, checks, or memoranda, or other policy or pool books or sheets.
(The Code does not define "policy" but, in this context, it refers to a form of gambling in which bets are made on unpredictable numbers, i.e., a numbers game. "Pool" refers to the total amount staked by all players in certain gambling games.)
Senate Bill 423 would amend the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act to provide that the Act would not apply to sports betting games.
The bills are tie-barred.
MCL 750.304 & 750.306 (S.B. 422) - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne
432.203 (S.B. 423)
FISCAL IMPACT
Senate Bills 422 and 423 would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on local government.
There are no data available on a statewide basis to indicate how many people are currently convicted of this offense, nor are there data available to estimate how many fewer people would be convicted of this crime if "sports betting games" were removed from the scope of the crime. Because this crime is punishable with a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or a fine of $500, local governments would receive fine revenue or incur the cost of incarceration. The cost of incarceration varies from county to county.
- Fiscal Analyst: K. FirestoneS9900\s422sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.