Ley sobre el funcionamiento de 'bucket-shops' en Pensilvania

Explicación Simple

Un 'bucket-shop' es un lugar donde las personas hacen apuestas sobre acciones sin comprar realmente nada. Si alguien dirige uno, puede ser arrestado y recibir una multa o ir a la cárcel.

Es como si abrieras una tienda donde la gente puede apostar sobre el resultado de un partido de fútbol, pero sin que realmente se juegue el partido.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan abre un negocio donde sus clientes pueden hacer apuestas sobre el precio de acciones de empresas, pero nunca compran esas acciones. La policía descubre que Juan está dirigiendo un 'bucket-shop' y lo arrestan.

Penalidades

Es un delito menor de tercer grado, con posible arresto y multas.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

18 Pa.C.S. 7316 - Keeping Bucket-shop (a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree if he keeps, or causes to be kept, any bucket- shop, or assists in the keeping of any bucket-shop. (b) Corporate penalty.--If a corporation is convicted, its charter shall be forfeited by a proceeding in quo warranto, instituted either at the relation of the Attorney General or the district attorney. (c) Second offense.--The continuance of the establishment after the first conviction shall be deemed a second offense. (d) Evidence required.--It shall not be necessary, in order to convict any person of keeping a bucket-shop, or causing one to be kept, to show that such person has entered into any contract, agreement, trade, or transaction of the nature of a "bucket-shop" as defined in this section; but it shall be sufficient to show that such person has offered to make such a contract, agreement, trade, or transaction, whether the contract, agreement, trade, or transaction was accepted or not. Proof of a single instance wherein any person or another on his behalf, has made or offered to make any such contract, agreement, trade, or transaction, shall be conclusive that the place wherein the same was made is a bucket-shop. (e) Definition.--As used in this section "bucket-shop" means a place where contracts, agreements, trades, or transactions respecting the sale or purchase of stocks, bonds, securities, grains, provisions or other commodities are made or offered to be made, to be closed, adjusted or settled upon the basis of public market quotations on a board of trade or exchange, but without a bona fide transaction on such board of trade or exchange. Cross References.Section 7316 is referred to in sections 7317, 7318, 7319 of this title.