2C:21-11. Rigging publicly exhibited contest

532 words·~2 min read·/nj/title-2c/chapter-21/2c-21-11

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Rigging or Improperly Influencing Publicly Exhibited Contest or Sports Event.

a. A person commits a crime if, with purpose to prevent a publicly exhibited contest or sports event from being conducted in accordance with the rules and usages which govern it, the person:

(1)Confers, offers, agrees to confer any benefit upon or threatens any injury to a participant, official, or other person associated with the contest or sports event;

(2)Tampers with any person, animal, or thing;

(3)Gives, offers, or promises, or attempts to give to or offer, or asks, receives, or offers to receive directly or indirectly, from any other person any compensation, gratuity, or thing of value, or any promise thereof, with the intention, understanding, or agreement that the person or any player, participant, manager, coach, or other official on, or associated with, a competitor or team in the contest or sports event, regardless of by whom such person is employed:

(a)will not use best efforts to win the contest or sports event or will cause themselves or their team to lose the contest or sports event; or

(b)will engage in conduct so as to limit their, or their team’s, margin of victory or defeat; or

(4)Gives, offers, or promises, or attempts to give to or offer, or asks, receives, or offers to receive, directly or indirectly, from any other person any compensation, gratuity, or thing of value, or any promise thereof, with the intention, understanding, or agreement that the person or any judge, referee, or other person officiating in the contest or sports event will fraudulently or corruptly judge, referee, or officiate the contest or sports event.

b. Soliciting or accepting benefit for rigging. A person commits a crime if the person knowingly solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any benefit the giving of which would be criminal under subsection a. of this section.

c. If the benefit offered, conferred, agreed to be conferred, solicited, accepted, or agreed to be accepted in violation of subsections a. and b. of this section is $75,000.00 or more, the offender is guilty of a crime of the second degree. If the benefit exceeds $500, but is less than $75,000, the offender is guilty of a crime of the third degree. If the benefit is $500 or less, the offender is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

d. Failure to report solicitation for rigging. A person commits a disorderly persons offense if the person fails to report, with reasonable promptness, a solicitation to accept any benefit or to do any tampering, the giving or doing of which would be criminal under subsection a. of this section.

e. Participation in rigged contest or sports event. A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if the person knowingly engages in, sponsors, produces, judges, or otherwise participates in a publicly exhibited contest or sports event knowing that the contest or sports event is being conducted in violation of subsection a. of this section.

L. 1978, c. 95, s. 2C:21-11, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by L. 1979, c. 178, s. 39, eff. Sept. 1, 1979; L. 1986, c. 129, s. 2, eff. Oct. 20, 1986; 2025, c.128, s.25.