California Changes Outdated Law Against Sports Betting Pools

Participating in an office sports betting pool, such as a March Madness competition, could have drawn jail time in California until a new law was passed this week, relieving everyone but the NFL.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill this week lowering penalties against participating in or running sports betting pools, such as March Madness and Super Bowl office pools.Previously, a violation could be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, whereas the new maximum penalty is $250.

The bill was proposed by Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, after a septuagenarian grandmother was arrested and charged for running a $50 pool at an Elks Lodge in his district. The older law had her facing jail time, along with much heavier fines.

The new law does not apply to either pools whose value is more than $2500 or online sporting bet pools.

Margaret Hamblin was working as a bartender at the Elks Lodge in Riverside when she received a citation for sports betting after taking ten $5 bets to form the pool. Hambling was printed and booked, and fined $130.

"Vital law enforcement resources are expended to investigate, charge and prosecute these two women for participating in an activity that is as common as speeding," said Jeffries of the sports betting incident.

The NFL did not comment on the possibility it would sue to prevent the new law from passing unless it got a cut of all pools involving its games.