578.398. Sports Bribery, First Degree — Penalty
Bribing an athlete to cheat is a felony in Missouri
It’s illegal to try to bribe a player or someone involved in a game to influence the outcome in any way. This includes trying to make them lose on purpose or reduce their margin of victory.
1. A person commits sports bribery in the first degree if they:
- Offer, give, or promise any kind of reward or benefit
- To a player or anyone involved in a sport or game
- With the goal of getting them to lose, try to lose, or affect the score
This law applies whether the person is already participating, planning to participate, or has any duties related to the game.
2. Sports bribery in the first degree is a class D felony.
Contact us online or call (314) 900-HELP to talk with a Missouri criminal defense lawyer.
