§ 6-3-609 — Sports bribery; definitions; penalties; venue; bonuses not prohibited

(a) As used in this section:
(i) "Athletic contest" means a sports event for which
an admission fee is charged or in which the participants or
officials are compensated;
(ii) "Bribe" means to confer a direct or indirect
gift, emolument, money, thing of value, testimonial, privilege,
appointment or personal advantage;
(iii) "Official" means a referee, manager, umpire,
coach or other official of an athletic club, team, league,
association, institution or conference;
(iv) "Participant" means a player in an athletic
contest.
(b) A person is guilty of sports bribery if:
(i) He bribes or offers to bribe a participant or
official in an athletic contest with the intent to:
(A) Induce a participant to lose or limit the
margin of victory or defeat;
(B) Influence an official's decision, opinion or
judgment for the purpose of losing or limiting the margin of
victory or defeat.
(ii) He is a participant or official in an athletic
contest and he:
(A) Accepts or agrees to accept a bribe given
with the intentions proscribed in paragraph (i) of this
subsection; or
(B) Commits a knowing act of omission or
commission with intent to lose or limit the margin of victory or
defeat for the purpose of material gain to himself.
(c) Sports bribery is a felony punishable by imprisonment
for not more than five (5) years, a fine of not more than five
thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.
(d) To convict a person for violating this section it is
not necessary that the participant or official be employed,
appointed or selected at the time the bribe is conferred,
offered or accepted, or that the participant or official
actually play or participate.
(e) In prosecutions under this section, venue may be laid
in the county where:
(i) The bribe was given, offered or accepted;
(ii) The athletic contest occurred; or
(iii) The acts referred to in this section were
committed.
(f) Nothing in this section prohibits the giving or
offering of a bonus or extra compensation to a participant or
official to encourage a higher degree of skill, ability or
diligence in the performance of his duties.