Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§1083 Transportation between shore and ship; penalties

Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 50— - GAMBLING › § 1083

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

It is illegal to operate or allow a boat to carry people between a place in the United States and a gambling ship that is not under any state's control. This rule applies whether passengers pay or not. Carrying people to or from such a ship is allowed only in an emergency to protect life or property. The Secretary of the Treasury makes rules to enforce this. If the law or the rules are broken, the owner or charterer faces $200 for each passenger carried in violation, and the captain or person in charge faces a $300 penalty. These fines become a legal claim against the boat, and the government can sue in federal court to collect them. The Secretary can reduce or cancel the penalties on terms they choose.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §1083

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)It shall be unlawful to operate or use, or to permit the operation or use of, a vessel for the carriage or transportation, or for any part of the carriage or transportation, either directly or indirectly, of any passengers, for hire or otherwise, between a point or place within the United States and a gambling ship which is not within the jurisdiction of any State. This section does not apply to any carriage or transportation to or from a vessel in case of emergency involving the safety or protection of life or property.

(b)The Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe necessary and reasonable rules and regulations to enforce this section and to prevent violations of its provisions.For the operation or use of any vessel in violation of this section or of any rule or regulation issued hereunder, the owner or charterer of such vessel shall be subject to a civil penalty of $200 for each passenger carried or transported in violation of such provisions, and the master or other person in charge of such vessel shall be subject to a civil penalty of $300. Such penalty shall constitute a lien on such vessel, and proceedings to enforce such lien may be brought summarily by way of libel in any court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof. The Secretary of the Treasury may mitigate or remit any of the penalties provided by this section on such terms as he deems proper.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 1083

Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73