Gambling in Calcutta

by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker

March 03, 2006

A Calcutta, or "auction pool" is an event held in conjunction with a golf tournament, horse race, or similar contest with multiple entrants. Accordingly participants (in Calcutta, India, from where this technique was first recorded by the Colonial British) bid among themselves to "buy" each of the contestants, each contestant being assigned to the highest bidder. The bids are pooled, and after the contest the pool is divided among those players who won the winning contestants at auction, divided according to proportions agreed upon in advance (often in the same proportions as the prize money awarded in the event itself).
Calcutta wagering:
 

Wagering on the outcome of amateur contests, cutter horse racing, dog sled racing, professional rodeo events or professional golf tournament in which those who wager bid at auction for the exclusive right to "purchase" or wager upon a particular contestant or entrant in the event and when the outcome of the event has been decided the total wagers comprising the pool, less a percentage "take-out" by the event's sponsor, is distributed to those who "purchased" or wagered.
 

Gambling:

Risking any property for gain contingent in whole or in part upon lot, chance, the operation of a gambling device or the happening or outcome of an event, including a sporting event, over which the person taking a risk has no control, but does not include:

(A) Bona fide contests of skill, speed, strength or endurance in which awards are made only to entrants or the owners of entries;

(B) Bona fide business transactions, which are valid under the law of contracts;

(C) Other acts or transactions now or hereafter expressly authorized by law;

(D) Raffles or bingo conducted, or pull tabs sold, by charitable or nonprofit organizations where the tickets for the raffle or bingo are sold only in this state and the pull tabs are sold only on the premises owned or occupied by the charitable or nonprofit organization;

(E) Any game, wager or transaction, which is incidental to a bona fide social relationship, has participated in by natural persons only, and in which no person is participating, directly or indirectly, in professional gambling.

(F) Calcutta wagering on contests or events conducted by a bona fide nationally chartered veterans', religious, charitable, educational or fraternal organization or nonprofit local civic or service club organized or incorporated under the laws of this state.

Gambling device:

Any device, machine, paraphernalia or equipment except an antique gambling device that is used or usable in the playing phases of any professional gambling activity, whether that activity consists of gambling between persons or gambling by a person involving the playing of a machine;

Gambling penalties:

a) A person who engages in gambling commits a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.

(b) A person who engages in professional gambling commits a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years, a fine of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000.00), or both.

6-7-103. Gambling devices, gambling records, gambling proceeds subject to seizure; disposition thereof; antique gambling devices protected.

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