{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/54.1-834.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/54.1-834.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/54.1-834.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/54.1-834.html"}],"law_id":369140,"edition_id":2,"section_id":369140,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-834","catch_line":"Prohibited activities; penalties","history":"1998, c. 895; 2015, cc. 216, 264; 2016, c. 756; 2025, cc. 95, 111.","full_text":"A\n\nNo betting or wagering shall be permitted at an event or exhibition bout before, during, or after the event in the building where the event is held.\n\nB\n\nNo person shall participate in a sham or fake boxing or martial arts contest. The Department shall have the authority to order, without a hearing, the person controlling the purse to hold the distribution to contestants, promoters, and trainers pending a public hearing by the Department. The Department shall, simultaneously with the issuance of such order to retain the share or purse, institute proceedings for a hearing to determine whether a sham or fake boxing or martial arts contest has occurred.\n\nC\n\nIt shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to violate this section or any statute or regulation governing the persons or activities regulated pursuant to this chapter.\n\nD\n\nThe third or any subsequent conviction for violating any provision of this section during a 36-month period shall constitute a Class 6 felony.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1376819,"text":"No betting or wagering shall be permitted at an event or exhibition bout before, during, or after the event in the building where the event is held.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1376820,"text":"No person shall participate in a sham or fake boxing or martial arts contest. The Department shall have the authority to order, without a hearing, the person controlling the purse to hold the distribution to contestants, promoters, and trainers pending a public hearing by the Department. The Department shall, simultaneously with the issuance of such order to retain the share or purse, institute proceedings for a hearing to determine whether a sham or fake boxing or martial arts contest has occurred.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1376821,"text":"It shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to violate this section or any statute or regulation governing the persons or activities regulated pursuant to this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1376822,"text":"The third or any subsequent conviction for violating any provision of this section during a 36-month period shall constitute a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52592,"edition_id":2,"name":"Boxing and Wrestling Events","identifier":"8.1","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":8,"parent_id":52439,"metadata":{"child_laws":11,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:31","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:54","permalink":{"id":1467935,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52592,"identifier":"8.1","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1","url":"\/54.1\/II\/8.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52439,"edition_id":2,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Boards Within the Department","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":52436,"metadata":{"child_laws":392,"child_structures":60},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:52","permalink":{"id":1466417,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52439,"identifier":"II","token":"54.1\/II","url":"\/54.1\/II\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52436,"edition_id":2,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":118,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1282,"child_structures":163},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:51","permalink":{"id":1466315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52436,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":369131,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-828","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-828\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-828","metadata":false},{"id":369133,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-829","catch_line":"Authorization from Director required; bond; physical examination; emergency medical services vehicles; physician; health insurance","url":"\/54.1-829\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-829","metadata":false},{"id":369132,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-829.1","catch_line":"Sanctioning organization; amateur martial arts events","url":"\/54.1-829.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-829.1","metadata":false},{"id":369134,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-830","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/54.1-830\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-830","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":369137,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-831","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Department","url":"\/54.1-831\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-831","metadata":false},{"id":369135,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-831.01","catch_line":"Boxing, Martial Arts, and Professional Wrestling Advisory Board","url":"\/54.1-831.01\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-831.01","metadata":false},{"id":369136,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-831.1","catch_line":"Summary suspension of boxing license","url":"\/54.1-831.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-831.1","metadata":false},{"id":369138,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-832","catch_line":"Director authorized to contract for certain services; award of contract; authority when no contract is in effect","url":"\/54.1-832\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-832","metadata":false},{"id":369139,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-833","catch_line":"Reports; cable television systems; fee on receipts","url":"\/54.1-833\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-833","metadata":false},{"id":369140,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-834","catch_line":"Prohibited activities; penalties","url":"\/54.1-834\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-834","metadata":false},{"id":369141,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-835","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-835\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-835","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":369139,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-833","catch_line":"Reports; cable television systems; fee on receipts","url":"\/54.1-833\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-833","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":369141,"structure_id":52592,"section_number":"54.1-835","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-835\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-835","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-834\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1998. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 895<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2015, chapters 216<\/a> and 264<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 756<\/a>; in 2025, chapters 95<\/a> and 111<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1467973,"object_type":"law","relational_id":369140,"identifier":"54.1-834","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-834","url":"\/54.1-834\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-834\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-834","dublin_core":{"Title":"Prohibited activities; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-834","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> No betting or wagering shall be permitted at an event<\/span> or exhibition bout<\/span> before, during, or after the event<\/span> in the building where the event<\/span> is held. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> No person<\/span> shall participate in a sham or fake boxing<\/span> or martial arts<\/span> contest. The Department<\/span> shall have the authority to order<\/span>, without a hearing<\/span>, the person<\/span> controlling the purse to hold the distribution to contestants, promoters<\/span>, and trainers pending a public hearing<\/span> by the Department<\/span>. The Department<\/span> shall, simultaneously with the issuance of such order<\/span> to retain the share or purse, institute proceedings for a hearing<\/span> to determine whether a sham or fake boxing<\/span> or martial arts<\/span> contest has occurred. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> It shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span> for any person<\/span> to violate this section or any statute<\/span> or regulation governing the persons<\/span> or activities regulated pursuant to this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The third or any subsequent conviction<\/span> for violating any provision of this section during a 36-month period shall constitute a Class 6 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROHIBITED ACTIVITIES; PENALTIES (\u00a7 54.1-834)\n\nA. No betting or wagering shall be permitted at an event or exhibition bout\nbefore, during, or after the event in the building where the event is held.\n\nB. No person shall participate in a sham or fake boxing or martial arts contest.\nThe Department shall have the authority to order, without a hearing, the person\ncontrolling the purse to hold the distribution to contestants, promoters, and\ntrainers pending a public hearing by the Department. The Department shall,\nsimultaneously with the issuance of such order to retain the share or purse,\ninstitute proceedings for a hearing to determine whether a sham or fake boxing\nor martial arts contest has occurred.\n\nC. It shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to violate this section or\nany statute or regulation governing the persons or activities regulated pursuant\nto this chapter.\n\nD. The third or any subsequent conviction for violating any provision of this\nsection during a 36-month period shall constitute a Class 6 felony.\n\nHISTORY: 1998, c. 895; 2015, cc. 216, 264; 2016, c. 756; 2025, cc. 95, 111.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}