Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

18 U.S.C. § 1303

Postmaster or employee as lottery agent 11 Section catchline was not amended to conform to change made in the text by Pub. L. 91–375.

Whoever, being an officer or employee of the Postal Service, acts as agent for any lottery office, or under color of purchase or otherwise, vends lottery tickets, or knowingly sends by mail or delivers any letter, package, postal card, circular, or pamphlet advertising any lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme, offering prizes dependent in whole or in part upon lot or chance, or any ticket, certificate, or instrument representing any chance, share, or interest in or dependent upon the event of any lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme offering prizes dependent in whole or in part upon lot or chance, or any list of the prizes awarded by means of any such scheme, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

June 25, 1948, ch. 64562 Stat. 763Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(10)84 Stat. 778Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(B)108 Stat. 2146(, ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 21435 Stat. 1130Based on title 18 U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 337 (, ). Minor changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 103–3221994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $100”.

Pub. L. 91–3751970— substituted “an officer or employee of the Postal Service” for “a postmaster or other person employed in the Postal Service”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Pub. L. 91–375section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375section 101 of Title 39Amendment by effective within 1 year after , on date established thereby by the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service and published by it in the Federal Register, see , set out as an Effective Date note preceding , Postal Service.