§ 12-864 — Prohibited sports wagering.

(a)(1) No athlete, coach or referee who takes part in a sporting event and no individual participating in e-sports shall place any sports wager on any sporting event in which such athlete, coach, referee or individual is participating. (2) No athlete, coach or referee who takes part in a sporting event of a sports governing body; employee of a sports governing body holding a position of authority or influence sufficient to exert influence over participants in a sporting event; employee of a member team of a sports governing body holding a position of authority or influence sufficient to exert influence over participants in a sporting event; or personnel of any bargaining unit of a sports governing body's athletes or referees, shall place any wager on any sporting event overseen by such governing body. (3) No owner with a direct or indirect legal or beneficial ownership interest of five per cent or more of a member team of a sports governing body shall place any wager on a sporting event in which such member team participates. Tribal membership in and of itself shall not constitute ownership for purposes of this section. (b) In determining which individuals are prohibited from placing a wager under subsection (a) of this section, a master wagering licensee or a licensed online gaming operator, sports wagering retailer or online gaming service provider shall use reasonably available public information and exercise reasonable efforts to obtain information from the department or the relevant sports governing body regarding (1) owners with a direct or indirect legal or beneficial ownership interest of five per cent or more of a member team of a sports governing body; and (2) employees holding a position of authority or influence sufficient to exert influence over participants in sporting events. (c) An individual shall only place a wager on such individual's behalf and shall not wager on the account of, or for, any other person. No master wagering licensee or a licensed online gaming operator, sports wagering retailer or online gaming service provider shall accept a wager from a person on the account of, or for, any other person. (d) An officer, director, owner, key employee, live game employee or occupational employee of a master wagering licensee or a licensed online gaming operator, sports wagering retailer or online gaming service provider or a family member who resides in the same household as such officer, director, owner, key employee or occupational employee, shall not place any wager with such master wagering licensee or its licensed sports wagering retailer or online gaming operator. Tribal membership in and of itself shall not constitute ownership for purposes of this section. (e) A master wagering licensee or a licensed online gaming operator, sports wagering retailer or online gaming service provider shall not knowingly pay any winnings to a person who places a wager in violation of this section. (f) A sports governing body may request that the commissioner restrict, limit or exclude wagering on a sporting event or events by providing notice in such form and manner as the commissioner prescribes. The commissioner may take such action as the commissioner deems necessary to ensure the integrity of wagering on such sporting event or events.

Legislative History

(P.A. 21-23, S. 15; P.A. 24-142, S. 85.) History: P.A. 21-23 effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 24-142 amended Subsec. (c) to delete “sports” re wager and amended Subsec. (d) to add reference to live game employee and delete “on a sporting event” re wager.