California Penal Code Section 337c PC: Accepting Bribe To Throw A Sporting Event

In California, it is a felony crime under Penal Code Section 337c for any player or participant in a professional or amateur sporting event to accept a bribe to influence the outcome. This law aims to protect the integrity of sports and prevent cheating through match-fixing.

This article provides an overview of the California law against accepting bribes to throw games, matches, or competitions. We’ll discuss the key elements prosecutors must prove, penalties for conviction, related crimes, and potential defenses to contest the charges.

Elements of Accepting a Bribe

To convict someone under PC 337c, the prosecution must establish these elements beyond a reasonable doubt¹:

• The defendant was a player or participant in a professional or amateur sport, contest, or exhibition
• The defendant accepted money, a bribe, or something of value
• The acceptance was based on an agreement or understanding to influence the outcome of the event by not giving full effort

“Throwing” a game essentially means intentionally trying to change the normal outcome by performing poorly. This cheats fans, teammates, and alters results dishonestly.

Penalties Under PC 337c

Accepting a bribe to throw a game is a California felony. Potential penalties include²:

• 16 months, two years, or three years in county jail
• Two, three, or four years in California state prison
• Up to $10,000 in fines

Sentencing typically depends on the circumstances of the case and the defendant’s criminal history. Harsher punishment tends to apply to players who took bribes in major professional leagues where sums of money were large.

Related Offenses

Two other charges may apply to match-fixing schemes³:

• PC 337b – Bribing a Player: It is illegal to offer, give, or promise money or gifts to influence a player or participant to throw an event.
• PC 337d – Bribing an Official: This section makes it illegal to bribe a referee, umpire, judge or other official to influence the outcome of a sporting competition.

Legal Defenses

Several strategies may help contest bribery charges under PC 337c⁴:

• No Agreement to Throw: Argue there was never any actual meeting of the minds or agreement to influence the game’s outcome.
• Entrapment: Claim law enforcement induced you to accept a bribe you were not otherwise willing to take.
• False Accusations: Challenge the credibility of witnesses and sufficiency of evidence you accepted a bribe.

Famous Match-Fixing Scandals

Some major match-fixing scandals have made headlines over the years, both in California and beyond:

• NBA Referee Tim Donaghy: He bet on games he officiated, made calls to affect scores, and accepted cash payments from gamblers. He ultimately served 15 months in prison for conspiracy under federal law.⁵
• MLB’s Black Sox Scandal: Eight Chicago White Sox players took bribes to intentionally lose the 1919 World Series. All eight were permanently banned from baseball.⁶
• Calciopoli Scandal: In Italy’s Serie A football league, five major teams were implicated in match-fixing schemes in 2006. Strict penalties were handed out.⁷

Preserving Integrity in Sport

While betting scandals have plagued many major sports historically, leagues today take match-fixing very seriously. California’s law against accepting bribes aims to deter cheating and preserve fairness and integrity in athletic competition.

Fans, teammates, and competitors deserve to know all players give their full effort. If accused of violating PC 337c, immediately retain an experienced criminal defense attorney to protect your rights and build the strongest case possible.