Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§1304 Broadcasting Lottery Information
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 61 — LOTTERIES › § 1304
Summary
It is illegal to broadcast on any radio or TV station that needs a U.S. license any ad or information about lotteries, gift schemes, or similar plans that give prizes by chance, or any list of prizes awarded (even if the list shows only some prizes). A person who does this, or who runs such a station and knowingly allows it, can be fined, jailed for up to one year, or both. Each day it is broadcast is a separate crime.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1304
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever broadcasts by means of any radio or television station for which a license is required by any law of the United States, or whoever, operating any such station, knowingly permits the broadcasting of, any advertisement of or information concerning any lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme, offering prizes dependent in whole or in part upon lot or chance, or any list of the prizes drawn or awarded by means of any such lottery, gift enterprise, or scheme, whether said list contains any part or all of such prizes, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Each day’s broadcasting shall constitute a separate offense.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 316 of title 47, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs (June 19, 1934, ch. 652, § 316, 48 Stat. 1088). Words “upon conviction thereof” were deleted as surplusage since punishment can be imposed only after a conviction. Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”. 1988—Pub. L. 100–625 inserted “or television” after “radio” in first sentence.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1988 Amendment Pub. L. 100–625, § 5, Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3206, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this Act [amending this section and section 1307 of this title and section 3005 of Title 39, Postal Service] shall take effect 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 7, 1988].”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1304
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102