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.