Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 50 — GAMBLING › § 1081
Defines key words used in this chapter. "Gambling ship" is a boat or similar craft used mainly to run one or more gambling businesses, but it does not cover a vessel where gambling takes place outside U.S. territorial waters during a covered voyage as defined in section 4472 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as in effect on January 1, 1994. "Gambling establishment" is any common place that runs gambling for money or other value, like taking bets, keeping bet records, policy games, lotteries, or games of chance. "Vessel" means any kind of watercraft, aircraft used on water, or floating structure. "American vessel" is one documented or numbered under U.S. law, and also a vessel not documented anywhere if owned, chartered, or controlled by U.S. citizens, residents, or U.S. corporations. "Wire communication facility" means the equipment, people, and services used to send writings, signs, pictures, or sounds by wire, cable, or similar connections.
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Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1081
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102