(1) Whoever knowingly transmits or receives gambling information by telephone, telegraph, radio, semaphore, the internet, a telecommunications transmission system, or similar means, or knowingly installs or maintains equipment for the transmission or receipt of gambling information shall be guilty of a class C felony subject to the penalty set forth in RCW 9A.20.021.

Attorney's Note

Under the Washington Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class C felonyup to 5 yearsup to $10,000
For details, see Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.20.021

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Terms Used In Washington Code 9.46.240

  • Commission: as used in this chapter , means the Washington state gambling commission created in RCW 9. See Washington Code 9.46.0221
  • Gambling: as used in this chapter , means staking or risking something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under the person's control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that the person or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome. See Washington Code 9.46.0237
  • Gambling information: as used in this chapter , means any wager made in the course of and any information intended to be used for professional gambling. See Washington Code 9.46.0245
  • Lottery: as used in this chapter , means a scheme for the distribution of money or property by chance, among persons who have paid or agreed to pay a valuable consideration for the chance. See Washington Code 9.46.0257
(2) This section shall not apply to such information transmitted or received or equipment or devices installed or maintained relating to activities authorized by this chapter including, but not limited to, sports wagering authorized under RCW 9.46.0364 and 9.46.0368, or to any act or acts in furtherance thereof when conducted in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and in accordance with the rules adopted under this chapter and conducted in accordance with tribal-state compacts.

NOTES:

IntentEffective date2020 c 127: See notes following RCW 9.46.0364.
State policy2006 c 290: “It is the policy of this state to prohibit all forms and means of gambling, except where carefully and specifically authorized and regulated. With the advent of the internet and other technologies and means of communication that were not contemplated when either the gambling act was enacted in 1973, or the lottery commission was created in 1982, it is appropriate for this legislature to reaffirm the policy prohibiting gambling that exploits such new technologies.” [ 2006 c 290 § 1.]