Possession of gambling records in the second degree · as in force on May 31, 2026
§ 225.15 Possession of gambling records in the second degree.
A person is guilty of possession of gambling records in the second degree when, with knowledge of the contents or nature thereof, he possesses any writing, paper, instrument or article:
1. Of a kind commonly used in the operation or promotion of a bookmaking scheme or enterprise; or
2. Of a kind commonly used in the operation, promotion or playing of a lottery or policy scheme or enterprise; except that in any prosecution under this subdivision, it is a defense that the writing, paper, instrument or article possessed by the defendant constituted, reflected or represented plays, bets or chances of the defendant himself in a number not exceeding ten.
3. Of any paper or paper product in sheet form chemically converted to nitrocellulose having explosive characteristics.
4. Of any water soluble paper or paper derivative in sheet form.
Possession of gambling records in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.
A person who knows an item’s contents or nature commits second-degree possession of gambling records by possessing:
The offense is a class A misdemeanor.
Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.
This provision appears in Volume 4 — The Court Clerk: Penal Law; Volume 1 — The Court Officer in Plain English; Volume 3 — The Court Officer: Penal Law; Volume 3 — Your Career: Penal Law in Plain English.