Iowa Bill Proposes Jail Time for Account Sharing in Sports Betting

The Iowa Senate is considering a bill that would criminalize certain violations of bookmaker regulations. According to SBC News, the proposed legislation targets account sharing and proxy betting.

The bill clearly defines the betting practices that would carry criminal penalties. Account sharing is described as “temporary or permanent access to an account by multiple individuals to conceal the identity of the actual bettor.” Proxy betting is defined as “placing a wager on behalf of another person with the intent to hide or conceal the bettor’s identity.”

Under the proposal, both practices could lead to severe penalties. Depending on the amount of money involved, account sharing and proxy betting could be classified as a Class C felony.

Violators would face fines starting at $430 and up to a year in jail. If the offense is deemed a Class C felony, penalties could escalate to a prison sentence of up to 10 years and fines ranging from $1,370 to $13,660.

The Iowa Senate Judiciary Committee has already approved the bill for further review.