oregon Gambling Laws
When looking at the Oregon Gambling Laws you may be a bit surprised by what you see. They have written an extensive list of laws pertaining to the regulation of gambling, and even a few that pertain to the player. We have most of the laws relating to what a player can and cannot get in trouble for. If you are concerned over one form of gambling or another then it is best that you stick to the laws, and perhaps even have them decoded by an attorney. There is even some reference to the Oregon Online Gambling Laws in the Oregon Statutes. If you want full clarification on laws, turn to an attorney and have him figure out whether or not what you want to do is legal.
As we are not attorneys, we cannot actually inform you whether or not what you want to do is legal. We are simply here to show you the laws and the places where you can actually gamble online.
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Oregon Gambling Statutes
Section 167.117
Definitions for ORS 167.108 to 167.164 and 464.270 to 464.530. As used in ORS 167.108 to 167.164 and 464.270 to 464.530, unless the context requires otherwise -
(1) “Bingo or lotto” means a game, played with cards bearing lines of numbers, in which a player covers or uncovers a number selected from a container, and which is won by a player who is present during the game and who first covers or uncovers the selected numbers in a designated combination, sequence or pattern.
(2) “Bookmaker” means a person who unlawfully accepts a bet from a member of the public upon the outcome of a future contingent event and who charges or accepts a percentage, fee or vigorish on the wager.
(3) “Bookmaking” means promoting gambling by unlawfully accepting bets from members of the public as a business, rather than in a casual or personal fashion, upon the outcomes of future contingent events.
(4) “Casino game” means any of the traditional gambling-based games commonly known as dice, faro, monte, roulette, fan-tan, twenty-one, blackjack, Texas hold-’em, seven-and-a-half, big injun, klondike, craps, poker, chuck-a-luck, Chinese chuck-a-luck (dai shu), wheel of fortune, chemin de fer, baccarat, pai gow, beat the banker, panquinqui, red dog, acey-deucey, or any other gambling-based game similar in form or content.
(5)(a) “Charitable, fraternal or religious organization” means any person that is:
(A) Organized and existing for charitable, benevolent, eleemosynary, humane, patriotic, religious, philanthropic, recreational, social, educational, civic, fraternal or other nonprofit purposes; and
(B) Exempt from payment of federal income taxes because of its charitable, fraternal or religious purposes.
(b) The fact that contributions to an organization profiting from a contest of chance do not qualify for a charitable deduction for tax purposes or that the organization is not otherwise exempt from payment of federal income taxes pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, constitutes prima facie evidence that the organization is not a bona fide charitable, fraternal or religious organization.
(6) “Contest of chance” means any contest, game, gaming scheme or gaming device in which the outcome depends in a material degree upon an element of chance, notwithstanding that skill of the contestants may also be a factor therein.
(7) “Gambling” means that a person stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under the control or influence of the person, upon an agreement or understanding that the person or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome. “Gambling” does not include:
(a) Bona fide business transactions valid under the law of contracts for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities or commodities, and agreements to compensate for loss caused by the happening of chance, including but not limited to contracts of indemnity or guaranty and life, health or accident insurance.
(b) Engaging in contests of chance under the following conditions:
(A) The contest is played for some token other than money;
(B) An individual contestant may not purchase more than $100 worth of tokens for use in the contest during any 24-hour period;
(C) The tokens may be exchanged only for property other than money;
(D) Except when the tokens are exchanged for a beverage or merchandise to be consumed on the premises, the tokens are not redeemable on the premises where the contest is conducted or within 50 miles thereof; and
(E) Except for charitable, fraternal or religious organizations, no person who conducts the contest as owner, agent or employee profits in any manner from operation of the contest.
(c) Social games.
(d) Bingo, lotto or raffle games or Monte Carlo events operated in compliance with ORS 167.118, by a charitable, fraternal or religious organization licensed pursuant to ORS 167.118, 464.250 to 464.380 and 464.420 to464.530 to operate such games.
(8) “Gambling device” means any device, machine, paraphernalia or equipment that is used or usable in the playing phases of unlawful gambling, whether it consists of gambling between persons or gambling by a person involving the playing of a machine. Lottery tickets, policy slips and other items used in the playing phases of lottery and policy schemes are not gambling devices within this definition. Amusement devices other than gray machines, that do not return to the operator or player thereof anything but free additional games or plays, shall not be considered to be gambling devices.
(9)(a) “Gray machine” means any electrical or electromechanical device, whether or not it is in working order or some act of manipulation, repair, adjustment or modification is required to render it operational, that:
(A) Awards credits or contains or is readily adaptable to contain, a circuit, meter or switch capable of removing or recording the removal of credits earned by a player, other than removal during the course of continuous play; or
(B) Plays, emulates or simulates a casino game, bingo or keno.
(b) A device is no less a gray machine because, apart from its use or adaptability as such, it may also sell or deliver something of value on the basis other than chance.
(c) “Gray machine” does not include:
(A) Any device commonly known as a personal computer, including any device designed and marketed solely for home entertainment, when used privately and not for a fee and not used to facilitate any form of gambling;
(B) Any device operated under the authority of the Oregon State Lottery;
(C) Any device manufactured or serviced but not operated in Oregon by a manufacturer who has been approved under rules adopted by the Oregon State Lottery Commission;
(D) A slot machine;
(E) Any device authorized by the Oregon State Lottery Commission for:
(i) Display and demonstration purposes only at trade shows; or
(ii) Training and testing purposes by the Department of State Police; or
(F) Any device used to operate bingo in compliance with ORS 167.118 by a charitable, fraternal or religious organization licensed to operate bingo pursuant to ORS 167.118, 464.250 to 464.380 and 464.420 to 464.530.
(10) “Handle” means the total amount of money and other things of value bet on the bingo, lotto or raffle games, the value of raffle chances sold or the total amount collected from the sale of imitation money during Monte Carlo events.
(11) “Internet” means an interactive computer service or system or an information service, system or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server and includes, but is not limited to, an information service, system or access software provider that provides access to a network system commonly known as the Internet, or any comparable system or service and also includes, but is not limited to a World Wide Web page, newsgroup, message board, mailing list or chat area on any interactive computer service or system or other online service.
(12) “Lottery” or “policy” means an unlawful gambling scheme in which:
(a) The players pay or agree to pay something of value for chances, represented and differentiated by numbers or by combinations of numbers or by some other medium, one or more of which chances are to be designated the winning ones;
(b) The winning chances are to be determined by a drawing or by some other method; and
(c) The holders of the winning chances are to receive something of value.
(13) “Monte Carlo event” means a gambling event at which wagers are placed with imitation money upon contests of chance in which players compete against other players or against the house. As used in this subsection, “imitation money” includes imitation currency, chips or tokens.
(14) “Numbers scheme or enterprise” means a form of lottery in which the winning chances or plays are not determined upon the basis of a drawing or other act on the part of persons conducting or connected with the scheme, but upon the basis of the outcome of a future contingent event otherwise unrelated to the particular scheme.
(15) “Operating expenses” means those expenses incurred in the operation of a bingo, lotto or raffle game, including only the following:
(a) Salaries, employee benefits, workers’ compensation coverage and state and federal employee taxes;
(b) Security services;
(c) Legal and accounting services;
(d) Supplies and inventory;
(e) Rent, repairs, utilities, water, sewer and garbage;
(f) Insurance;
(g) Equipment;
(h) Printing and promotions;
(i) Postage and shipping;
(j) Janitorial services and supplies; and
(k) Leasehold improvements.
(16) “Player” means a person who engages in any form of gambling solely as a contestant or bettor, without receiving or becoming entitled to receive any profit therefrom other than personal gambling winnings, and without otherwise rendering any material assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation of the particular gambling activity. A person who gambles at a social game of chance on equal terms with the other participants therein is a person who does not otherwise render material assistance to the establishment, conduct or operation thereof by performing, without fee or remuneration, acts directed toward the arrangement or facilitation of the game, such as inviting persons to play, permitting the use of premises therefor and supplying cards or other equipment used therein. A person who engages in bookmaking is not a player.
(17) “Profits from unlawful gambling” means that a person, acting other than solely as a player, accepts or receives money or other property pursuant to an agreement or understanding with another person whereby the person participates or is to participate in the proceeds of unlawful gambling.
(18) “Promotes unlawful gambling” means that a person, acting other than solely as a player, engages in conduct that materially aids any form of unlawful gambling. Conduct of this nature includes, but is not limited to, conduct directed toward the creation or establishment of the particular game, contest, scheme, device or activity involved, toward the acquisition or maintenance of premises, paraphernalia, equipment or apparatus therefor, toward the solicitation or inducement of persons to participate therein, toward the conduct of the playing phases thereof, toward the arrangement of any of its financial or recording phases or toward any other phase of its operation. A person promotes unlawful gambling if, having control or right of control over premises being used with the knowledge of the person for purposes of unlawful gambling, the person permits the unlawful gambling to occur or continue or makes no effort to prevent its occurrence or continuation.
(19) “Raffle” means a lottery operated by a charitable, fraternal or religious organization wherein the players pay something of value for chances, represented by numbers or combinations thereof or by some other medium, one or more of which chances are to be designated the winning ones or determined by a drawing and the player holding the winning chance is to receive something of value. (20)(a) “Slot machine” means a gambling device that as a result of the insertion of a coin or other object operates, either completely automatically, or with the aid of some physical act by the player, in such a manner that, depending upon elements of chance, it may eject something of value or otherwise entitle the player to something of value. A device so constructed or readily adaptable or convertible to such use is no less a slot machine because it is not in working order or because some mechanical act of manipulation or repair is required to accomplish its adaptation, conversion or workability. Nor is it any less a slot machine because apart from its use or adaptability as such it may also sell or deliver something of value on the basis other than chance.
(b) “Slot machine” does not include any device authorized by the Oregon State Lottery Commission for:
(A) Display and demonstration purposes only at trade shows; or
(B) Training and testing purposes by the Department of State Police. (21) “Social game” means:
(a) A game, other than a lottery, between players in a private home where no house player, house bank or house odds exist and there is no house income from the operation of the social game; and
(b) If authorized pursuant to ORS 167.121, a game, other than a lottery, between players in a private business, private club or place of public accommodation where no house player, house bank or house odds exist and there is no house income from the operation of the social game.
(22) “Something of value” means any money or property, any token, object or article exchangeable for money or property, or any form of credit or promise directly or indirectly contemplating transfer of money or property or of any interest therein.
(23) “Trade show” means an exhibit of products and services that is:
(a) Not open to the public; and
(b) Of limited duration.
(24) “Unlawful” means not specifically authorized by law.
Section 167.108
Definitions for ORS 167.109 and 167.112. As used in ORS 167.109 and 167.112:
(1) “Credit” and “credit card” have the meaning given those terms under the federal Consumer Credit ProtectionAct (P.L. 90-321, 82 Stat. 146, 15 U.S.C. 1601).
(2) “Electronic funds transfer” has the meaning given that term in ORS 293.525.
(3) “Financial institution” has the meaning given that term in ORS 706.008.
(4) “Money transmission” has the meaning given that term in ORS 717.200. [2001 c.502 §4] Section 167.109
Internet gambling -
(1) A person engaged in an Internet gambling business may not knowingly accept, in connection with the participation of another person in unlawful gambling using the Internet:
(a) Credit, or the proceeds of credit, extended to or on behalf of such other person, including credit extended through the use of a credit card;
(b) An electronic funds transfer or funds transmitted by or through a money transmission business, or the proceeds of an electronic funds transfer or money transmission service, from or on behalf of the other person;
(c) Any check, draft or similar instrument that is drawn by or on behalf of the other person and is drawn on or payable at or through any financial institution; or
(d) The proceeds of any other form of financial transaction that involves a financial institution as a payor or financial intermediary on behalf of or for the benefit of the other person.
(2) Violation of subsection (1) of this section is a Class C felony. [2001 c.502 §2]
Section 167.121
Local regulation of social games -
Counties and cities may, by ordinance, authorize the playing or conducting of a social game in a private business, private club or in a place of public accommodation. Such ordinances may provide for regulation or licensing of the social games authorized. [1974 c.7 §3] Note: 167.121 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 167 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation. Section 167.122
Unlawful gambling in the second degree -
(1) A person commits the crime of unlawful gambling in the second degree if the person knowingly:
(a) Places a bet with a bookmaker; or
(b) Participates or engages in unlawful gambling as a player.
(2) Unlawful gambling in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor. [1971 c.743 §264; 1997 c.867 §21]
Section 167.127
Unlawful gambling in the first degree -
(1) A person commits the crime of unlawful gambling in the first degree if the person knowingly promotes or profits from unlawful gambling.
(2) Unlawful gambling in the first degree is a Class C felony. [1971 c.743 §265; 1997 c.867 §22]
Section 167.132
Possession of gambling records in the second degree -
(1) A person commits the crime of possession of gambling records in the second degree if, with knowledge of the contents thereof, the person possesses any writing, paper, instrument or article:
(a) Of a kind commonly used in the operation or promotion of a bookmaking scheme or enterprise; or
(b) Of a kind commonly used in the operation, promotion or playing of a lottery or numbers scheme or enterprise.
(2) Possession of gambling records in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor. [1971 c.743 §266]
Section 167.137
Possession of gambling records in the first degree -
(1) A person commits the crime of possession of gambling records in the first degree if, with knowledge of the contents thereof, the person possesses any writing, paper, instrument or article:
(a) Of a kind commonly used in the operation or promotion of a bookmaking scheme or enterprise, and constituting, reflecting or representing more than five bets totaling more than $500; or
(b) Of a kind commonly used in the operation, promotion or playing of a lottery or numbers scheme or enterprise, and constituting, reflecting or representing more than 500 plays or chances therein.
(2) Possession of gambling records in the first degree is a Class C felony. [1971 c.743 §267]
Section 167.142
Defense to possession of gambling records. In any prosecution under ORS 167.132 or 167.137 it is a defense if the writing, paper, instrument or article possessed by the defendant is neither used nor intended to be used in the operation or promotion of a bookmaking scheme or enterprise, or in the operation, promotion or playing of a lottery or numbers scheme or enterprise. [1971 c.743 §268]
Section 167.147
Possession of a gambling device; defense -
(1) A person commits the crime of possession of a gambling device if, with knowledge of the character thereof, the person manufactures, sells, transports, places or possesses, or conducts or negotiates a transaction affecting or designed to affect ownership, custody or use of:
(a) A slot machine; or
(b) Any other gambling device, believing that the device is to be used in promoting unlawful gambling activity.
(2) Possession of a gambling device is a Class A misdemeanor.
(3) It is a defense to a charge of possession of a gambling device if the slot machine or gambling device that caused the charge to be brought was manufactured:
(a) Prior to 1900 and is not operated for purposes of unlawful gambling; or
(b) More than 25 years before the date on which the charge was brought and:
(A) Is located in a private residence;
(B) Is not operated for the purposes of unlawful gambling; and
(C) Has permanently affixed to it by the manufacturer, the manufacturer’s name and either the date of manufacture or the serial number. [1971 c.743 §269; 1977 c.264 §1; 1983 c.403 §1; 1993 c.781 §1; 1995 c.577 §1]
Section 167.153
Proving occurrence of sporting event in prosecutions of gambling offenses -
In any prosecution under ORS 167.117 and 167.122 to 167.147 in which it is necessary to prove the occurrence of a sporting event, the following shall be admissible in evidence and shall be prima facie evidence of the occurrence of the event:
(1) A published report of its occurrence in a daily newspaper, magazine or other periodically printed publication of general circulation; or
(2) Evidence that a description of some aspect of the event was written, printed or otherwise noted at the place in which a violation of ORS 167.117 and 167.122 to 167.147 is alleged to have been committed. [1971 c.743 §270]
Section 167.167
Cheating -
(1) A person commits the crime of cheating if the person, while in the course of participating or attempting to participate in any legal or illegal gambling activity, directly or indirectly:
(a) Employs or attempts to employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud any other participant or any operator;
(b) Engages in any act, practice or course of operation that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any other participant or any operator;
(c) Engages in any act, practice or course of operation with the intent of cheating any other participant or the operator to gain an advantage in the game over the other participant or operator; or
(d) Causes, aids, abets or conspires with another person to cause any other person to violate paragraphs (a) to (c) of this subsection.
(2) As used in this section, “deceit,” “defraud” and “fraud” are not limited to common law deceit or fraud.
(3) Cheating is a Class C felony. [1997 c.867 §20]
