Taipei: The Legislative Yuan has enacted significant amendments to the Sports Lottery Issuance Act, mandating life imprisonment for individuals found guilty of compromising the integrity of sports lottery games resulting in fatalities. These amendments prescribe prison terms ranging from seven years to life, aiming to reinforce the sanctity of sports lottery proceedings.

According to Focus Taiwan, the newly approved legislation also addresses cases leading to severe injuries, with offenders facing imprisonment from three to ten years. Additionally, financial penalties have been instituted, with fines between NT$20 million (US$679,362) and NT$50 million for violations causing death or serious harm.

The amendments expand the definition of illegal interference to include "inducement" alongside pre-existing methods like violence, coercion, and fraud. This broadened scope seeks to encompass various tactics that could potentially undermine fairness in sports lotteries.

The legislative journey of these amendments began with the Cabinet's approval in March, followed by a comprehensive review on June 2. The proposals garnered bipartisan support, leading to their unchallenged passage in the legislative session.

These legislative changes are designed to synchronize with existing regulations in the Sports Industry Development Act, ensuring consistent penalties for actions that disrupt the fairness of sports competitions, whether through violence, coercion, fraud, inducement, or other unlawful activities resulting in death or serious injuries.