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14: Lotteries, Bingo Games, Chain Letters and Pyramid Schemes, Gaming, Bookmaking, and Criminal Profiteering

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    69141

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    Learning Objectives
    • Review the definition of a lottery.
    • Recognize when a bingo game is illegal, based on the corpus delicti.
    • Identify the characteristics of a Ponzi scheme.
    • Summarize the crime of illegal gaming.
    • Examine the crime of bookmaking and explain the elements.
    • Dissect the potential crimes involved in criminal profiteering activity.

    • 14.1: Lotteries
      This page provides an overview of California's gambling laws, focusing on lotteries, bingo regulations, and prohibited schemes like Ponzi and pyramid schemes. It addresses the distinction between regulated gambling and skill games, concerns about revenue competition, and the legal use of bingo proceeds for charitable purposes. The text also details the risks associated with Ponzi schemes, their operational mechanics, and the role of whistleblowers in reporting fraudulent activities.
    • 14.2: Criminal Profiteering
      This page defines criminal profiteering under California Penal Code Section 186, covering serious crimes like murder and human trafficking linked to organized crime, where groups engage in illegal activities for economic gain. It provides historical context on how organized crime meets public demand for illegal goods and services. The text discusses government efforts to combat organized crime and suggests potential strategies, including legalization, to reduce its impact.
    • 14.3: Chapter Summary
      This page covers lotteries as a form of gambling with diverse legal frameworks, including age limits and vendor licensing. It addresses gambling-related offenses like illegal bingo payments and penalties for operations like endless chains and bookmaking. The topic of criminal profiteering is introduced, encompassing financially motivated crimes. The page also includes key gambling and crime terminology and review questions to encourage further discussion and understanding.

    This page titled 14: Lotteries, Bingo Games, Chain Letters and Pyramid Schemes, Gaming, Bookmaking, and Criminal Profiteering was last modified on Sat, 03 Oct 2026 18:42:40 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by George Cartwright.