The bill would create a Class B misdemeanor offense for knowingly offering or engaging in sports wagering in violation of the bill's provisions; create a state jail felony offense relating to influencing the outcome of a competition that is subject to a sports wager under the bill's provisions; and create a state jail felony offense relating to falsifying an application submitted under the bill's provisions. The bill would exempt a fantasy or simulated game or contest from the definition of "bet" for the purpose of gambling offenses.
Creating a new criminal offense may result in additional demands upon state and local correctional resources due to a possible increase in the number of individuals placed under supervision in the community or sentenced to a term of confinement.
In fiscal year 2022, there were 280 individuals arrested, 41 individuals placed on community supervision, and no individuals admitted into a state correctional institution for a current law misdemeanor gambling offense. It is unknown if any of these cases involved a fantasy or simulated game or contest.
The impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources cannot be determined due to a lack of data to estimate the prevalence of conduct outlined in the bill's provisions that would be subject to criminal penalties.