Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102

§1081 Definitions

Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 50 — GAMBLING › § 1081

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

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.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §1081

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

As used in this chapter: The term “gambling ship” means a vessel used principally for the operation of one or more gambling establishments. Such term does not include a vessel with respect to gambling aboard such vessel beyond the territorial waters of the United States during a covered voyage (as defined in section 4472 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as in effect on January 1, 1994). The term “gambling establishment” means any common gaming or gambling establishment operated for the purpose of gaming or gambling, including accepting, recording, or registering bets, or carrying on a policy game or any other lottery, or playing any game of chance, for money or other thing of value. The term “vessel” includes every kind of water and air craft or other contrivance used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, or on water and in the air, as well as any ship, boat, barge, or other water craft or any structure capable of floating on the water. The term “American vessel” means any vessel documented or numbered under the laws of the United States; and includes any vessel which is neither documented or numbered under the laws of the United States nor documented under the laws of any foreign country, if such vessel is owned by, chartered to, or otherwise controlled by one or more citizens or residents of the United States or corporations organized under the laws of the United States or of any State. The term “wire communication facility” means any and all instrumentalities, personnel, and services (among other things, the receipt, forwarding, or delivery of communications) used or useful in the transmission of writings, signs, pictures, and sounds of all kinds by aid of wire, cable, or other like connection between the points of origin and reception of such transmission.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 4472 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in text, is classified to section 4472 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322, in definition of “gambling ship”, inserted at end “Such term does not include a vessel with respect to gambling aboard such vessel beyond the territorial waters of the United States during a covered voyage (as defined in section 4472 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as in effect on January 1, 1994).” 1961—Pub. L. 87–216 inserted definition of “wire communication facility”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 1081

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102